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spare

spare

 
 
pronunciation:
speIr
parts of speech:
transitive verb, intransitive verb, adjective, noun
features:
Word Combinations (verb, adjective, noun), Grammatical Patterns
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: spares, sparing, spared
definition 1: to handle gently or leniently.
Since it was his first offense, the judge decided to spare him.
similar words:
favor
definition 2: to allow (someone) to avoid (something undesirable).
The interruption spared me having to tell him the truth.[verb + object + object ] The hurricane's swiftly moving out to sea spared the town even greater destruction.
synonyms:
free from, save
similar words:
acquit, exempt, exonerate, let off, liberate, pardon, redeem, release, reprieve, rescue
definition 3: to refrain from injuring or destroying.
The judge spared his life but sent him to prison.The teacher spared his feelings by not dwelling on his failures.
synonyms:
save
similar words:
avoid, conserve, forbear, protect, safeguard, shelter, shield, withhold
definition 4: to use economically or with restraint.
Please try to spare the hot water.
synonyms:
conserve, save
antonyms:
waste
similar words:
economize, forbear, forgo, hoard, hold, husband, keep, omit, reserve, restrain, scrimp on, skimp, withhold
definition 5: to allow; afford.
Please spare me a minute of your time.[verb + object + object ] Can you spare me a dollar?[verb + object + object ]
synonyms:
afford, allow
similar words:
give, grant, provide, relinquish, supply, yield
definition 6: to refrain from including or mentioning.
Please spare me your excuses.[verb + object + object ]
similar words:
forgo, omit, withhold
 
part of speech: intransitive verb
definition 1: to be economical.
synonyms:
economize, stint
similar words:
pinch pennies, save, scrimp, skimp
definition 2: to refrain from causing injury or damage.
similar words:
forbear, withhold
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: adjective
inflections: sparer, sparest
definition 1: kept in reserve.
Fortunately, they had a spare tire in the trunk.
synonyms:
reserve
similar words:
auxiliary, extra, on hand, substitute, supplementary
definition 2: being more than needed.
If you have any spare sheets and towels, we really could use them.She gave the homeless man her spare change.
synonyms:
surplus
similar words:
additional, auxiliary, excess, extra, leftover, odd, superfluous, supplementary, unnecessary
definition 3: slender; lean.
She wondered how such a spare boy could eat so much.
synonyms:
lank, lean, rawboned, slight
antonyms:
corpulent, curvaceous, stout
similar words:
emaciated, gaunt, lanky, meager, rangy, scrawny, skinny, slender, tenuous, thin
definition 4: barely sufficient; meager.
The prisoners were give a spare meal each night.The furnishings in the apartment were spare and flimsy.
synonyms:
frugal, lean, meager, scant, scanty
antonyms:
profuse
similar words:
niggardly, skimpy, slender, sparing, stingy, stringent
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: noun
definition 1: a replacement or surplus item that is put aside for future use.
Don't worry about the tire; we have a spare in the trunk.
definition 2: in bowling, the knocking down of all pins with two rolls of the ball.
She didn't get a strike, but she achieved a spare with her second ball.
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivations: sparely (adv.), spareness (n.)