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1. Dictionary

   spare

   /sper/

   adjective

   • 1. additional to what is required for ordinary use: "few people had spare cash for inessentials" Similar extrasupplementaryadditionalsecondanotheralternativeemergencyreservebackuprelieffallbacksubstitutefreshauxiliaryancillaryalternatesurplussurplus to requirementssuperfluoustoo much/manysupernumeraryexcessivein excessgoing beggingredundantnot requiredunnecessaryinessentialunessentialneedlessunneededuncalled fordispensabledisposableexpendableunwanteduselessde tropOpposite principalusefulrequired
   • ▪ not currently in use or occupied: "the spare bedroom"
   • 2. with no excess fat; thin: "a spare, bearded figure" Similar slenderleanwillowysylphlikesveltelissomgracefulsnake-hippedrangyclean-limbedtrimslightslightly builtwithout an ounce of fatthinas thin as a reedskinnysize-zerogauntattenuatedlankyspindlyinformal:skin and bonerare:gracileattenuateOpposite fat
   • 3. elegantly simple: "her clothes are smart and spare in style"
   • ▪ meager; nearly inadequate: "the furnishings were spare and unadorned"

   noun

   • 1. an item kept in case another item of the same type is lost, broken, or worn out: "with three to choose from, your child will never be without a spare"
   • ▪ a spare tire: "make sure there are no problems with any of the tires, including the spare"
   • 2. (in tenpin bowling) an act of knocking down all the pins with two consecutive rolls of the ball.

   verb

   • 1. give (something of which one has enough) to (someone); afford to give to: "she asked if I could spare her a dollar or two" Similar afforddo withoutmanage withoutget along withoutdispense withpart withgivelet someone haveprovide
   • ▪ make free or available: "I'm sure you can spare me a moment"
   • 2. refrain from killing, injuring, or distressing: "there was no way the men would spare her" Similar not harmleave uninjuredleave unhurtbe merciful toshow mercy tohave mercy onbe lenient todeal leniently withhave pity onpardongrant a pardon toexcuseleave unpunishedforgivereprievereleasefreelet offamnestyinformal:go easy on
   • ▪ refrain from inflicting (something) on (someone): "the country had until now been spared the violence occurring elsewhere"
   • ▪ try to ensure or satisfy one's own comfort or needs: "in her concern to help others, she has never spared herself"
   • 3. be frugal: archaic "but some will spend, and some will spare"

   Word Origin Old Englishspær ‘not plentiful, meager’, sparian ‘refrain from injuring’, ‘refrain from using’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German sparen ‘to spare’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. sparely adverb
   • 2. spareness noun

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • S

     1

   • P

     3

   • A

     1

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSPARE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   SPARE definition: 1. If something is spare, it is available to use because it is extra: 2. time when you are not…. Learn more.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionarySPARE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   SPARE meaning: 1. If something is spare, it is available to use because it is extra: 2. time when you are not…. Learn more.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionarySPARE | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   SPARE meaning: 1. If something is spare, it is available to use, because it is extra and not being used: 2. time…. Learn more.

5. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › essential-british-englishSPARE | English meaning - Cambridge Essential British

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › essential-british-english

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   SPARE definition: 1. If something is spare, it is extra and not being used: 2. time when you are not working: 3. to…. Learn more.

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › thesaurus › spareSPARE - 116 Synonyms and Antonyms - Cambridge English

   dictionary.cambridge.org › thesaurus › spare

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   These are words and phrases related to spare. Click on any word or phrase to go to its thesaurus page. Or, go to the definition of spare.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryspare | definition in the Cambridge Essential English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   spare meaning: 1. If something is spare, it is extra and not being used: 2. time when you are not working: 3. to…. Learn more.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSPARE TIME | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   SPARE TIME definition: time when you are not working or do not have anything you must do: . Learn more.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSPARE NO EFFORT | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   SPARE NO EFFORT definition: to achieve something by working as hard as possible or spending as much money as is necessary: . Learn more.

10. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishREPLACEMENT | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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    Add to word list. [ C ] a thing or person that takes the place of something or someone else: a replacement for sb/sth We now use LEDs as replacements for conventional light bulbs. a permanent/temporary replacement She has agreed to take on the role of chairman until a permanent replacement is found.

11. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSPARSE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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    SPARSE definition: 1. small in numbers or amount, often spread over a large area: 2. small in numbers or amount…. Learn more.