spare
(redirected from spares)Also found in: Thesaurus, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
spare
(spâr)tr.v. spared, spar·ing, spares
1.
a. To refrain from harming, injuring, destroying, or killing: The general spared the city from a bombardment.
b. To leave undamaged or unharmed: The oldest trees in the forest were spared from the fire.
c. To refrain from denouncing or distressing; treat leniently or with consideration: The teacher spared the student's feelings by not criticizing her.
d. To allow (someone) to avoid experiencing or doing (something): spared myself the trouble of going to the store.
2.
a. To hold back from; withhold or avoid: spared no expense for the celebration.
b. To use or supply with restraint: Don't spare the mustard.
3. To give or grant out of one's resources; afford: Can you spare ten minutes?
adj. spar·er, spar·est
1.
a. Kept in reserve: spare parts.
b. Being in excess of what is needed; extra: spare cash.
c. Free for other use; unoccupied: spare time.
2.
a. Not lavish, abundant, or excessive; meager: a spare breakfast.
b. Lean and trim: a runner with a spare figure.
c. Not elaborate or ornate; simple: a writer's spare style.
n.
Idiom: 1. A replacement, especially a tire, reserved for future need.
2. Sports
a. The act of knocking down all ten pins with two successive rolls of a bowling ball.
b. The score so made.
to spare
In addition to what is needed: We paid our bills and had money to spare.
[Middle English sparen, from Old English sparian.]
spare′ly adv.
spare′ness n.
spar′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
spare
(spɛə)vb
1. (tr) to refrain from killing, punishing, harming, or injuring
2. (tr) to release or relieve, as from pain, suffering, etc
3. (tr) to refrain from using: spare the rod, spoil the child.
4. (tr) to be able to afford or give: I can't spare the time.
5. (usually passive) (esp of Providence) to allow to survive: I'll see you again next year if we are spared.
6. (intr) rare to act or live frugally
7. (intr) rare to show mercy
8. not spare oneself to exert oneself to the full
9. to spare more than is required: two minutes to spare.
adj
10. (often immediately postpositive) in excess of what is needed; additional: are there any seats spare?.
11. able to be used when needed: a spare part.
12. (of a person) thin and lean
13. scanty or meagre
14. (postpositive) slang Brit upset, angry, or distracted (esp in the phrase go spare)
n
15. a duplicate kept as a replacement in case of damage or loss
16. (Automotive Engineering) a spare tyre
17. (Bowls & Bowling) tenpin bowling
a. the act of knocking down all the pins with the two bowls of a single frame
b. the score thus made. Compare strike40
[Old English sparian to refrain from injuring; related to Old Norse spara, Old High German sparōn]
ˈsparely adv
ˈspareness n
ˈsparer n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
spare
(spɛər)v. spared, spar•ing, v.t.
1. to refrain from harming, punishing, or killing.
2. to deal gently or leniently with: His harsh review spared no one.
3. to save, as from strain or discomfort: to spare you needless embarrassment.
4. to omit or withhold: Spare the gory details.
5. to refrain from employing: to spare the rod.
6. to give or lend, as from a supply, esp. without inconvenience: Can you spare a cup of sugar?
7. to set aside for a particular purpose.
8. to use or give frugally: Don't spare the whipped cream!
v.i. 9. to use economy; be frugal.
10. to refrain from inflicting injury or punishment; exercise lenience or mercy.
adj. 11. kept in reserve, as for possible use: a spare part.
12. being in excess of present need; free for other use: a spare bedroom.
13. not taken up with work or other commitments; free: spare time.
14. frugally restricted or meager: a spare diet.
15. lean or thin, as a person.
16. sparing, economical, or temperate.
n. 17. a spare thing or part, as an extra tire for emergency use.
18.
Idioms: a. the knocking down of all the bowling pins with two bowls.
b. a score so made. Compare strike (def. 56).
to spare, remaining; left over: We finished early, with time to spare.
[before 900; (v.) Middle English; Old English sparian, c. Old Frisian sparia, Old Saxon, Old High German sparōn, Old Norse spara]
spare′a•ble, adj.
spare′ly, adv.
spare′ness, n.
spar′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
spare
An individual part, subassembly or assembly supplied for the maintenance or repair of systems or equipment.
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.
spare
Past participle: spared
Gerund: sparing
| Imperative |
|---|
| spare |
| spare |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  spare - an extra component of a machine or other apparatusconstituent, element, component - an artifact that is one of the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up; especially a part that can be separated from or attached to a system; "spare components for cars"; "a component or constituent element of a system" |
| 2. | spare - an extra car wheel and tire for a four-wheel vehicle car wheel - a wheel that has a tire and rim and hubcap; used to propel the car | |
| 3. | spare - a score in tenpins; knocking down all ten after rolling two balls score - the act of scoring in a game or sport; "the winning score came with less than a minute left to play" | |
| Verb | 1. | spare - refrain from harming |
| 2. | spare - save or relieve from an experience or action; "I'll spare you from having to apologize formally" | |
| 3. | spare - give up what is not strictly needed; "he asked if they could spare one of their horses to speed his journey" give - transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody; "I gave her my money"; "can you give me lessons?"; "She gave the children lots of love and tender loving care" | |
| 4. | spare - use frugally or carefully | |
| Adj. | 1. |  spare - thin and fit; "the spare figure of a marathon runner"; "a body kept trim by exercise" |
| 2. | spare - more than is needed, desired, or required; "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" unnecessary, unneeded - not necessary | |
| 3. | spare - not taken up by scheduled activities; "a free hour between classes"; "spare time on my hands" unoccupied - not held or filled or in use; "an unoccupied telephone booth"; "unoccupied hours" | |
| 4. | spare - kept in reserve especially for emergency use; "a reserve supply of food"; "a spare tire"; "spare parts" unnecessary, unneeded - not necessary | |
| 5. |  spare - lacking in amplitude or quantity; "a bare livelihood"; "a scanty harvest"; "a spare diet" | |
| 6. |  spare - lacking embellishment or ornamentation; "a plain hair style"; "unembellished white walls"; "functional architecture featuring stark unornamented concrete"unadorned, undecorated - not decorated with something to increase its beauty or distinction |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
spare
adjective
1. back-up, reserve, second, extra, relief, emergency, additional, substitute, fall-back, auxiliary, in reserve He could have taken a spare key.
2. extra, surplus, leftover, over, free, odd, unwanted, in excess, unused, superfluous, going begging, supernumerary They don't have a lot of spare cash.
extra needed, necessary, spoken for, allocated, designated, set aside, in use, earmarked
extra needed, necessary, spoken for, allocated, designated, set aside, in use, earmarked
3. free, leisure, unoccupied, own In her spare time she raises funds for charity.
verb
1. afford, give, grant, do without, relinquish, part with, allow, bestow, dispense with, manage without, let someone have He suggested that his country could not spare the troops.
2. have mercy on, pardon, have pity on, leave, release, excuse, let off (informal), not harm, go easy on (informal), leave unharmed, be merciful to, grant pardon to, deal leniently with, leave uninjured, refrain from hurting, save (from harm) Not a man was spared.
have mercy on show no mercy to, condemn, punish, destroy, hurt, damn, afflict
have mercy on show no mercy to, condemn, punish, destroy, hurt, damn, afflict
go spare (Brit. slang) become angry, become upset, go mental (slang), become distracted, become enraged, become mad (informal), go up the wall (slang), become distraught, blow your top (informal), be or get pissed (off) (taboo slang), do your nut (Brit. slang), have or throw a fit (informal) She went spare when we told her what had happened.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
spare
verb1. To treat with inordinate gentleness and care:
Idiom: handle with kid gloves.
2. To free from an obligation or duty:
1. Being more than is needed, desired, or appropriate:
2. Conspicuously deficient in quantity, fullness, or extent:
Slang: measly.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
spare
[spɛəʳ]A. ADJ
1. (= extra) → de más, de sobra; (= reserve) → de reserva; (= free) → libre
there's a spare blanket if you're cold → hay una manta de más or de sobra si tienes frío
take a spare pair of socks → llévate otro par de calcetines
I keep a spare pair of glasses → guardo unas gafas de reserva
I leave a spare key with the neighbours → dejo una llave de reserva en casa de los vecinos
I always keep a bit of spare cash for emergencies → siempre guardo un poco de dinero extra para emergencias
is there a seat spare? → ¿queda algún asiento libre?
is there any milk spare? → ¿queda leche?
have you got a spare jacket I could borrow? → ¿tienes otra chaqueta para prestarme?
I do it whenever I get a spare moment → lo hago cuando tengo un momento libre
spare time → tiempo m libre
to go spare (= be available) → sobrar, quedar (Brit) (= get angry) → ponerse como loco
there are two tickets going spare → quedan or sobran dos entradas
the boss will go spare when he finds out → el jefe se pondrá como loco cuando se entere
there's a spare blanket if you're cold → hay una manta de más or de sobra si tienes frío
take a spare pair of socks → llévate otro par de calcetines
I keep a spare pair of glasses → guardo unas gafas de reserva
I leave a spare key with the neighbours → dejo una llave de reserva en casa de los vecinos
I always keep a bit of spare cash for emergencies → siempre guardo un poco de dinero extra para emergencias
is there a seat spare? → ¿queda algún asiento libre?
is there any milk spare? → ¿queda leche?
have you got a spare jacket I could borrow? → ¿tienes otra chaqueta para prestarme?
I do it whenever I get a spare moment → lo hago cuando tengo un momento libre
spare time → tiempo m libre
to go spare (= be available) → sobrar, quedar (Brit) (= get angry) → ponerse como loco
there are two tickets going spare → quedan or sobran dos entradas
the boss will go spare when he finds out → el jefe se pondrá como loco cuando se entere
2. (= lean) [body, build] → enjuto (liter)
B. N
1. (gen) always carry a spare in case you have a puncture → lleve siempre una rueda de recambio or repuesto por si tiene un pinchazo
I've lost my toothbrush and I don't have a spare → he perdido el cepillo de dientes y no tengo otro
I've lost my toothbrush and I don't have a spare → he perdido el cepillo de dientes y no tengo otro
2. (also spare part) → (pieza f de) recambio m, (pieza f de) repuesto m, refacción f (Mex)
C. VT
1. (= make available) can you spare the time? → ¿dispones del tiempo?, ¿tienes tiempo?
it's good of you to spare the time → es muy amable de su parte dedicarme (este) tiempo
I can spare you five minutes → le puedo conceder or dedicar cinco minutos
to spare a thought for sb → pensar un momento en algn
it's good of you to spare the time → es muy amable de su parte dedicarme (este) tiempo
I can spare you five minutes → le puedo conceder or dedicar cinco minutos
to spare a thought for sb → pensar un momento en algn
2. (= do without) can you spare this for a moment? → ¿me puedo llevar esto un momento?
if you can spare it → si no lo vas a necesitar
we can't spare him now → ahora no podemos prescindir de él
we completed the job with three days to spare → terminamos el trabajo con tres días de antelación
I arrived at the station with two minutes/time to spare → llegué a la estación con dos minutos de antelación/con tiempo de sobra
there's enough and to spare → basta y sobra, hay más que suficiente para todos
if you can spare it → si no lo vas a necesitar
we can't spare him now → ahora no podemos prescindir de él
we completed the job with three days to spare → terminamos el trabajo con tres días de antelación
I arrived at the station with two minutes/time to spare → llegué a la estación con dos minutos de antelación/con tiempo de sobra
there's enough and to spare → basta y sobra, hay más que suficiente para todos
3. (= be grudging with) she spared no effort in helping me → no escatimó esfuerzos para ayudarme
they spared no expense in refurbishing the house → no repararon en or escatimaron gastos a la hora de renovar la casa
spare the rod, spoil the child → la letra con sangre entra
they spared no expense in refurbishing the house → no repararon en or escatimaron gastos a la hora de renovar la casa
spare the rod, spoil the child → la letra con sangre entra
4. (= show mercy to) → perdonar
the fire spared nothing → el incendio no perdonó nada
to spare sb's feelings → no herir los sentimientos de algn
to spare sb's life → perdonar la vida a algn
the fire spared nothing → el incendio no perdonó nada
to spare sb's feelings → no herir los sentimientos de algn
to spare sb's life → perdonar la vida a algn
5. (= save) → ahorrar, evitar
I'll spare you the gory details → me ahorraré los detalles escabrosos, te evitaré los detalles escabrosos
to spare sb the trouble of doing sth → ahorrar or evitar a algn la molestia de hacer algo
I could have spared myself the trouble → podía haberme ahorrado or evitado la molestia
see also blush A1
I'll spare you the gory details → me ahorraré los detalles escabrosos, te evitaré los detalles escabrosos
to spare sb the trouble of doing sth → ahorrar or evitar a algn la molestia de hacer algo
I could have spared myself the trouble → podía haberme ahorrado or evitado la molestia
see also blush A1
D. CPD spare part N → (pieza f de) repuesto m, (pieza f de) recambio m, refacción f (Mex)
spare room N → cuarto m de invitados, cuarto m para las visitas
spare tyre, spare tire (US) N (Aut) → neumático m de recambio, llanta f de recambio (LAm) (Brit) (hum) → michelín m
spare wheel N (Aut) → rueda f de repuesto or recambio
spare room N → cuarto m de invitados, cuarto m para las visitas
spare tyre, spare tire (US) N (Aut) → neumático m de recambio, llanta f de recambio (LAm) (Brit) (hum) → michelín m
spare wheel N (Aut) → rueda f de repuesto or recambio
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
spare
(speə) verb1. to manage without. No-one can be spared from this office.prescindir, pasar sin
2. to afford or set aside for a purpose. I can't spare the time for a holiday.disponer de
3. to treat with mercy; to avoid injuring etc. `Spare us!' they begged.perdonar
4. to avoid causing grief, trouble etc to (a person). Break the news gently in order to spare her as much as possible.evitar
5. to avoid using, spending etc. He spared no expense in his desire to help us.escatimar
6. to avoid troubling (a person with something); to save (a person trouble etc). I answered the letter myself in order to spare you the bother.evitar
adjective1. extra; not actually being used. We haven't a spare (bed) room for guests in our house.de repuesto, de sobra
2. (of time etc) free for leisure etc. What do you do in your spare time?libre
noun1. a spare part (for a car etc). They sell spares at that garage. pieza de recambio, pieza de repuesto
2. an extra wheel etc, kept for emergencies. rueda de recambio
ˈsparing adjectiveˈsparingly adverbspare part a part for a machine etc, used to replace an identical part if it breaks etc. pieza de repuesto, pieza de recambio
spare rib a rib of pork with only a small amount of meat left on it. costilla de cerdo
(and) to spare in greater supply or quantity than is needed; extra. I'll go to an exhibition if I have time to spare; I have enough food and to spare.de sobra
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
spare
→ de más , emplear , escatimarMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
Collins Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
spare
vt conservar, preservar; limb-sparing conservador del miembro; nervesparing conservador de nervios; valvesparing conservador de la válvulaEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.