What does "spare" mean?

1. (extra or additional) available to use because it is extra and not currently needed. 2. (plain or simple) plain and simple, without any extra decoration or detail. 3. (to give or afford) to give something to someone because you do not need it yourself. 4. (to show mercy) to not hurt or destroy someone or something when you have the power to do so. 5. (to prevent something unpleasant) to prevent someone from having to experience something difficult or boring. 6. (a replacement part) an extra item, like a tyre or a key, kept in case the first one breaks. 7. (bowling term) knocking down all the pins using two tries in one turn.

spare

adj. · v. · n.

US //ˈspɛɹ// UK //spˈeə// spare

1 extra or additional (adj.)
A2 Elementary

available to use because it is extra and not currently needed.

held in reserve as an extra or additional item for use when the primary is unavailable.

Example

We have a spare bedroom if you want to stay the night.

Example

The technician kept a spare set of cables in the van to ensure that any hardware failures could be addressed immediately without returning to the warehouse.
- main
- primary
2 plain or simple (adj.)
C1 Advanced Literary

plain and simple, without any extra decoration or detail.

characterised by a lack of ornamentation or excess; lean and economical in style.

Example

The poet is known for her spare and beautiful writing style.

Example

The architect's spare design relied on the quality of the raw concrete and natural light rather than applied decoration.
- ornate
- lavish

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3 to give or afford (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to give something to someone because you do not need it yourself.

to manage to give or lend something, such as time or money, without inconvenience.

Example

Can you spare a few minutes to help me with this box?

Example

Despite her busy schedule, the professor managed to spare an hour to review the graduate student's preliminary findings.
- keep
- withhold
4 to show mercy (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to not hurt or destroy someone or something when you have the power to do so.

to refrain from harming, punishing, or killing; to allow to go free.

Example

The king decided to spare the prisoner's life at the last moment.

Example

The invading army was ordered to spare the historic library, as the general valued the preservation of cultural heritage over total destruction.
- punish
- harm
5 to prevent something unpleasant (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to prevent someone from having to experience something difficult or boring.

to save someone from the necessity of doing or experiencing something unpleasant.

Example

I will spare you the boring details of my long commute.

Example

The witness was asked to summarise her statement to spare the family the trauma of hearing the graphic details again.
- save
- relieve
- subject
6 a replacement part (n.)
B1 Intermediate

an extra item, like a tyre or a key, kept in case the first one breaks.

a duplicate or replacement part kept in reserve for emergency use.

Example

If you lose your house key, there is a spare under the flowerpot.

Example

The driver realised he had a flat tyre but was relieved to find a full-sized spare in the trunk.
- replacement
- duplicate
7 bowling term (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

knocking down all the pins using two tries in one turn.

the act of knocking down all ten pins with the second ball of a frame.

Example

She got a spare in the final round and won the game.

Example

After failing to knock down all the pins with his first delivery, the bowler managed a difficult spare by clipping the remaining pin on the far left.
- strike

Etymology 1

From Middle English spare, spar, from Old English spær (“sparing, scant”), from Proto-Germanic sparaz, from Proto-Indo-European sph₁rós, from the root *speh₁-. Compare Dutch spaar(zaam), German spar(sam) and spär(lich), Swedish spar(sam), Icelandic sparr (“sparing”); also Latin (pro)sperus (“lucky”), Old Church Slavonic споръ (sporŭ, “plentiful”), Albanian shperr (“earn money”), Persian سپار (sepâr, “entrust; deposit”), Ancient Greek σπαρνός (sparnós, “rare”), Sanskrit स्फिर (sphirá, “thick”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English sparen, sparien, from Old English sparian (“to spare, show mercy to, refrain from injuring or destroying”), from Proto-Germanic sparōną, sparāną (“to save, keep, spare”), from Proto-Indo-European *sper- (“to be productive, earn”). Cognate with Scots spar, spare, spair (“to spare”), West Frisian sparje (“to save, spare”), Dutch sparen (“to save, spare”), German sparen (“to save, conserve, economise”), Swedish spara (“to save, save up”), Icelandic spara (“to save, conserve”).

Idioms4 entries