adj., n., & v.
adj. 1 a not required for ordinary use; extra (have no spare cash; spare time). b reserved for emergency or occasional use (slept in the spare room). 2 lean; thin. 3 scanty; frugal; not copious (a spare diet; a spare prose style). 4 colloq. not wanted or used by others (a spare seat in the front row).
n. 1 Brit. a spare part; a duplicate. 2 Bowling the knocking-down of all the pins with the first two balls.
v. 1 tr. afford to give or do without; dispense with (cannot spare him just now; can spare you a couple). 2 tr. a abstain from killing, hurting, wounding, etc. (spared his feelings; spared her life). b abstain from inflicting or causing; relieve from (spare me this talk; spare my blushes). 3 tr. be frugal or grudging of (no expense spared). 4 intr. archaic be frugal. go spare colloq. 1 Brit. become extremely angry or distraught. 2 be unwanted by others. not spare oneself exert one's utmost efforts. spare part a duplicate part to replace a lost or damaged part of a machine etc. spare tyre 1 an extra tyre carried in a motor vehicle for emergencies. 2 Brit. colloq. a roll of fat round the waist. to spare left over; additional (an hour to spare). sparely adv. spareness n. sparer n.
[ OE spr, sparian f. Gmc ]