UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈspɛər/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/spɛr/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(spâr)
spare/spɛr/USA pronunciationv.,spared, spar•ing,adj.,spar•er, spar•est,n. v.
to refrain from harming, punishing, or killing:[~ + object]The queen decided to spare the condemned man.
to deal gently or kindly with:[~ + object]The critic's harsh review did not spare anyone.
to save, as from discomfort:[~ + object + object]They kept the truth from you to spare you needless embarrassment.
to omit or withhold:[~ (+ object) + object]Spare (me) the gory details.
to keep oneself from using; choose not to use:[~ + object]to spare the rod and spoil the child (= To fail to beat a child sometimes is to spoil the child).
to give or lend, as from a supply, esp. without inconvenience:[~ + object]Can you spare a dollar?
to use or give a small amount of:[~ + object]Don't spare the whipped cream!
adj.
kept in reserve, as for possible use:a spare part.
being more than needed:a spare bedroom where you'd be welcome to stay.
not taken up with work or other commitments; free:spare time.
restricted:a spare diet.
lean or thin, such as a person:a short, spare man weighing about 100 lbs.
to refrain from harming or destroying; leave uninjured; forbear to punish, hurt, or destroy:to spare one's enemy.
to deal gently or leniently with; show consideration for:His harsh criticism spared no one.
to save from strain, discomfort, embarrassment, or the like, or from a particular cause of it:to spare him the bother; to spare her needless embarrassment.
to refrain from, forbear, omit, or withhold, as action or speech:Spare us the gory details.
to refrain from employing, as some instrument or recourse:to spare the rod.
to set aside for a particular purpose:to spare land for a garden.
to give or lend, as from a supply, esp. without inconvenience or loss:Can you spare a cup of sugar? Can you spare me a dollar till payday?
to dispense with or do without:We can't spare a single worker during the rush hour.
to use economically or frugally; refrain from using up or wasting:A walnut sundae, and don't spare the whipped cream!
to have remaining as excess or surplus:We can make the curtains and have a yard to spare.
v.i.
to use economy; be frugal.
to refrain from inflicting injury or punishment; exercise lenience or mercy.
[Obs.]to refrain from action; forbear.
adj.
kept in reserve, as for possible use:a spare part.
being in excess of present need; free for other use:spare time.
frugally restricted or meager, as a manner of living or a diet:a spare regime.
lean or thin, as a person.
scanty or scant, as in amount or fullness.
sparing, economical, or temperate, as persons.
n.
Automotivea spare thing, part, etc., as an extra tire for emergency use.
Ceramicsan area at the top of a plaster mold for holding excess slip.
Sport[Bowling.]
the knocking down of all the pins with two bowls.
a score so made. Cf. strike (def. 78).
bef. 900; (verb, verbal) Middle English sparen, Old English sparian; cognate with Dutch, German sparen, Old Norse spara; (noun, nominal and adjective, adjectival) Middle English; compare Old English spær sparing, frugal (cognate with Old High German spar, Old Norse sparr
spare′a•ble, adj. spare′ly, adv. spare′ness, n. spar′er, n.