English adjective: spare | |||
1. | spare thin and fit | ||
Samples | The spare figure of a marathon runner. A body kept trim by exercise. | ||
Synonyms | trim | ||
Similar | lean, thin | ||
Antonyms | fat | ||
2. | spare more than is needed, desired, or required | ||
Samples | 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. | ||
Synonyms | excess, extra, redundant, supererogatory, superfluous, supernumerary, surplus | ||
Similar | unnecessary, unneeded | ||
Antonyms | necessary | ||
3. | spare not taken up by scheduled activities | ||
Samples | A free hour between classes. Spare time on my hands. | ||
Synonyms | free | ||
Similar | unoccupied | ||
Antonyms | occupied | ||
4. | spare kept in reserve especially for emergency use | ||
Samples | A reserve supply of food. A spare tire. Spare parts. | ||
Similar | unnecessary, unneeded | ||
Antonyms | necessary | ||
5. | spare lacking in amplitude or quantity | ||
Samples | A bare livelihood. A scanty harvest. A spare diet. | ||
Synonyms | bare, scanty | ||
Similar | meager, meagerly, meagre, scrimpy, stingy | ||
Antonyms | ample | ||
6. | spare lacking embellishment or ornamentation | ||
Samples | A plain hair style. Unembellished white walls. Functional architecture featuring stark unornamented concrete. | ||
Synonyms | bare, plain, unembellished, unornamented | ||
Similar | unadorned, undecorated | ||
Antonyms | adorned, decorated | ||
English noun: spare | |||
1. | spare (artifact) an extra component of a machine or other apparatus | ||
Synonyms | spare part | ||
Broader (hypernym) | component, constituent, element | ||
2. | spare (artifact) an extra car wheel and tire for a four-wheel vehicle | ||
Synonyms | fifth wheel | ||
Broader (hypernym) | car wheel | ||
3. | spare (act) a score in tenpins; knocking down all ten after rolling two balls | ||
Broader (hypernym) | score | ||
English verb: spare | |||
1. | spare (social) refrain from harming | ||
Examples | They spare him from writing the letter | ||
Synonyms | save | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | forbear, refrain | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | favor, favour | ||
2. | spare (social) save or relieve from an experience or action | ||
Samples | I'll spare you from having to apologize formally. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody something. Somebody ----s somebody PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | exempt, free, relieve | ||
3. | spare (possession) give up what is not strictly needed | ||
Samples | He asked if they could spare one of their horses to speed his journey. | ||
Synonyms | dispense with, give up, part with | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | give | ||
4. | spare (consumption) use frugally or carefully | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | expend, use | ||