■ adjective
1》 additional to what is required for ordinary use.
↘not currently in use or occupied.
↘(of time) available for leisure.
2》 with no excess fat; thin.
3》 elegantly simple.
■ noun
1》 an item kept in case another item of the same type is lost, broken, or worn out.
2》 (in tenpin bowling) an act of knocking down all the pins with two balls.
■ verb
1》 give (something of which one has enough) to (someone).
↘make free or available.
2》 refrain from killing or harming.
↘refrain from inflicting (harm) on (someone): they have been ~d the violence.
3》 archaic be frugal.
Phrases
go ~ Brit. informal become extremely angry or distraught.
~ no expense (or no expense ~d ) be prepared to pay any amount.
to ~ left over.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
OE spær 'not plentiful, meagre', sparian 'refrain from injuring or using', of Gmc origin.