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spare - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'spare' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Spare [ a.]
- To use frugally or stintingly, as that which is scarce or valuable; to retain or keep unused; to save.
- To keep to one's self; to forbear to impart or give.
- To preserve from danger or punishment; to forbear to punish, injure, or harm; to show mercy to.
- To save or gain, as by frugality; to reserve, as from some occupation, use, or duty.
- To deprive one's self of, as by being frugal; to do without; to dispense with; to give up; to part with.
2 . Spare [ n.]
- The act of sparing; moderation; restraint.
- Parsimony; frugal use.
- An opening in a petticoat or gown; a placket.
- That which has not been used or expended.
- 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.
3 . Spare [ v. i.]
- To be frugal; not to be profuse; to live frugally; to be parsimonious.
- To refrain from inflicting harm; to use mercy or forbearance.
- To desist; to stop; to refrain.
4 . Spare [ v. t.]
- Scanty; not abundant or plentiful; as, a spare diet.
- Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; chary.
- 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.
- Held in reserve, to be used in an emergency; as, a spare anchor; a spare bed or room.
- Lean; wanting flesh; meager; thin; gaunt.
- Slow.

Meaning of 'spare' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . spare [ v]
Meaning (1):
- give up what is not strictly needed
Example in sentence:
  • he asked if they could spare one of their horses to speed his journey
Meaning (2):
- save or relieve from an experience or action
Example in sentence:
  • I'll spare you from having to apologize formally
3 . spare [ s]
Meaning (3):
- lacking in magnitude or quantity
Example in sentence:
  • a bare livelihood;
  • a scanty harvest;
  • a spare diet
Meaning (4):
- thin and fit
Example in sentence:
  • a body kept trim by exercise;
  • the spare figure of a marathon runner
Meaning (5):
- not taken up by scheduled activities
Example in sentence:
  • a free hour between classes;
  • spare time on my hands
Meaning (6):
- lacking embellishment or ornamentation
Example in sentence:
  • a plain hair style;
  • functional architecture featuring stark unornamented concrete;
  • unembellished white walls
Meaning (7):
- kept in reserve especially for emergency use
Example in sentence:
  • a reserve supply of food;
  • a spare tire;
  • spare parts
Meaning (8):
- more than is needed, desired, or required
Example in sentence:
  • delete superfluous (or unnecessary) words;
  • extra ribs as well as other supernumerary internal parts;
  • found some extra change lying on the dresser;
  • it was supererogatory of her to gloat;
  • skills made redundant by technological advance;
  • sleeping in the spare room;
  • supernumerary ornamentation;
  • surplus cheese distributed to the needy;
  • trying to lose excess weight;
  • yet another book on heraldry might be thought redundant

Nearby Words:

spa spaad space spaced spaceful spacelate spaceless spacial spacially spacious

See 'spare' also in:

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