spare Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an extra component of a machine or other apparatus
    spare part.
  2. noun an extra car wheel and tire for a four-wheel vehicle
    fifth wheel.
  3. noun a score in tenpins; knocking down all ten after rolling two balls
  4. verb refrain from harming
    save.
  5. verb save or relieve from an experience or action
    • I'll spare you from having to apologize formally
  6. verb give up what is not strictly needed
    dispense with; give up; part with.
    • he asked if they could spare one of their horses to speed his journey
  7. verb use frugally or carefully
  8. adjective satellite thin and fit
    trim.
    • the spare figure of a marathon runner
    • a body kept trim by exercise
  9. adjective satellite more than is needed, desired, or required
    supererogatory; extra; redundant; surplus; excess; superfluous; supernumerary.
    • trying to lose excess weight
    • found some extra change lying on the dresser
    • yet another book on heraldry might be thought redundant
    • skills made redundant by technological advance
    • sleeping in the spare room
    • supernumerary ornamentation
    • it was supererogatory of her to gloat
    • delete superfluous (or unnecessary) words
    • extra ribs as well as other supernumerary internal parts
    • surplus cheese distributed to the needy
  10. adjective satellite not taken up by scheduled activities
    free.
    • a free hour between classes
    • spare time on my hands
  11. adjective satellite kept in reserve especially for emergency use
    • a reserve supply of food
    • a spare tire
    • spare parts
  12. adjective satellite lacking in amplitude or quantity
    scanty; bare.
    • a bare livelihood
    • a scanty harvest
    • a spare diet
  13. adjective satellite lacking embellishment or ornamentation
    plain; unornamented; bare; unembellished.
    • a plain hair style
    • unembellished white walls
    • functional architecture featuring stark unornamented concrete

WordNet

Spare transitive verb
Etymology
AS. sparian, fr. spær spare, sparing, saving; akin to D. & G. sparen, OHG. sparn, Icel. & Sw. spara, Dan. spare See Spare, a.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Spared ; present participle & verbal noun noun Sparing
Definitions
  1. To use frugally or stintingly, as that which is scarce or valuable; to retain or keep unused; to save. "No cost would he spare." Chaucer.
    [Thou] thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare. Milton.
    He that hath knowledge, spareth his words. Prov. xvii. 27.
  2. To keep to one's self; to forbear to impart or give.
    Be pleased your plitics to spare. Dryden.
    Spare my sight the pain Of seeing what a world of tears it costs you. Dryden.
  3. To preserve from danger or punishment; to forbear to punish, injure, or harm; to show mercy to.
    Spare us, good Lord. Book of Common Prayer.
    Dim sadness did not spare That time celestial visages. Milton.
    Man alone can whom he conquers spare. Waller.
  4. To save or gain, as by frugality; to reserve, as from some occupation, use, or duty.
    All the time he could spare from the necessary cares of his weighty charge, he estowed on . . . serving of God. Knolles.
  5. To deprive one's self of, as by being frugal; to do without; to dispense with; to give up; to part with.
    Where angry Jove did never spare One breath of kind and temperate air. Roscommon.
    I could have better spared a better man. Shak.
Spare intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be frugal; not to be profuse; to live frugally; to be parsimonious.
    I, who at some times spend, at others spare, Divided between carelessness and care. Pope.
  2. To refrain from inflicting harm; to use mercy or forbearance.
    He will not spare in the day of vengeance. Prov. vi. 34.
  3. To desist; to stop; to refrain. Obs. Chaucer.
Spare adjective
Etymology
AS. spær sparing. Cf. Spare, v. t.
Wordforms
comparative Sparer ; superlative Sparest; -- not used in all the senses of the word
Definitions
  1. Scanty; not abundant or plentiful; as, a spare diet.
  2. Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; chary.
    He was spare, but discreet of speech. Carew.
  3. Being over and above what is necessary, or what must be used or reserved; not wanted, or not used; superfluous; as, I have no spare time.
    If that no spare clothes he had to give. Spenser.
  4. Held in reserve, to be used in an emergency; as, a spare anchor; a spare bed or room.
  5. Lean; wanting flesh; meager; thin; gaunt.
    O, give me the spare men, and spare me the great ones. Shak.
  6. Slow. Obs. or prov. Eng. Grose.
Spare noun
Definitions
  1. The act of sparing; moderation; restraint. Obs.
    Killing for sacrifice, without any spare. Holland.
  2. Parsimony; frugal use. Obs. Bacon.
    Poured out their plenty without spite or spare. Spenser.
  3. An opening in a petticoat or gown; a placket. Obs.
  4. That which has not been used or expended.
  5. (Tenpins) The right of bowling again at a full set of pins, after having knocked all the pins down in less than three bowls. If all the pins are knocked down in one bowl it is a double spare; in two bowls, a single spare. different terminology now

Webster 1913