spare (n.)

  1. an extra component of a machine or other apparatus

    [ Syn: spare part ]

  2. an extra car wheel and tire for a four-wheel vehicle

    [ Syn: fifth wheel ]

  3. a score in tenpins; knocking down all ten after rolling two balls

    spare (adj.)

  1. thin and fit; the spare figure of a marathon runner; a body kept trim by exercise

    [ Syn: trim ]

  2. 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

    [ Syn: excess , extra , redundant , supererogatory , superfluous , supernumerary , surplus ]

  3. not taken up by scheduled activities; a free hour between classes; spare time on my hands

    [ Syn: free ]

  4. kept in reserve especially for emergency use; a reserve supply of food; a spare tire; spare parts'

  5. lacking in amplitude or quantity; a bare livelihood; a scanty harvest; a spare diet

    [ Syn: bare , scanty ]

  6. lacking embellishment or ornamentation; a plain hair style; unembellished white walls; functional architecture featuring stark unornamented concrete

    [ Syn: plain , bare , unembellished , unornamented ]

    spare (v.)

  1. refrain from harming

    [ Syn: save ]

  2. save or relieve from an experience or action; I'll spare you from having to apologize formally'

  3. give up what is not strictly needed; he asked if they could spare one of their horses to speed his journey

    [ Syn: give up , part with , dispense with ]

  4. use frugally or carefully

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.