spare
♦ spare /sp'eər/ (spares sparing spared)
1 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
You use spare to describe something that is the same as things that you are already using, but that you do not need yet and are keeping ready in case another one is needed.
Don't forget to take a few spare batteries...
He could have taken a spare key...
The wagons carried spare ammunition.
[N-COUNT]
Spare is also a noun.
Give me the trunk key and I'll get the spare.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
You use spare to describe something that is not being used by anyone, and is therefore available for someone to use.
The spare bedroom is on the second floor...
There was hardly a spare inch of space to be found.
3 [VERB] only to-inf, V, V
If you have something such as time, money, or space to spare, you have some extra time, money, or space that you have not used or which you do not need.
You got here with ninety seconds to spare...
It's not as if he has money to spare...
4 [VERB] V n, V n
If you spare time or another resource for a particular purpose, you make it available for that purpose.
She said that she could only spare 35 minutes for our meeting...
He suggested that his country could not spare the troops for such an operation.
5 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed
If a person or a place is spared, they are not harmed, even though other people or places have been. (LITERARY)
We have lost everything, but thank God, our lives have been spared...
6 [VERB] V n n, V n
If you spare someone an unpleasant experience, you prevent them from suffering it.
I wanted to spare Frances the embarrassment of discussing this subject...
She's just trying to spare Shawna's feelings...
7
see also sparing
8 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
If you spare a thought for an unfortunate person, you make an effort to think sympathetically about them and their bad luck.
Spare a thought for the nation's shopkeepers-consumer sales slid again in May...spare part (spare parts)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Spare parts are parts that you can buy separately to replace old or broken parts in a piece of equipment. They are usually parts that are designed to be easily removed or fitted.spare room (spare rooms)
[N-COUNT]
A spare room is a bedroom which is kept especially for visitors to sleep in.spare time
[N-UNCOUNT] usu poss N
Your spare time is the time during which you do not have to work and you can do whatever you like.
In her spare time she read books on cooking...spare tyre (spare tyres)
in AM, use spare tire
1 [N-COUNT]
A spare tyre is a wheel with a tyre on it that you keep in your car in case you get a flat tyre and need to replace one of your wheels.
2 [N-COUNT]
If you describe someone as having a spare tyre, you mean that they are fat around the waist. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL)spare wheel (spare wheels)
[N-COUNT]
A spare wheel is a wheel with a tyre on it that you keep in your car in case you get a flat tyre and need to replace one of your wheels. (mainly BRIT; in AM, use spare tire)
1 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
You use spare to describe something that is the same as things that you are already using, but that you do not need yet and are keeping ready in case another one is needed.
Don't forget to take a few spare batteries...
He could have taken a spare key...
The wagons carried spare ammunition.
[N-COUNT]
Spare is also a noun.
Give me the trunk key and I'll get the spare.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
You use spare to describe something that is not being used by anyone, and is therefore available for someone to use.
The spare bedroom is on the second floor...
There was hardly a spare inch of space to be found.
3 [VERB] only to-inf, V, V
If you have something such as time, money, or space to spare, you have some extra time, money, or space that you have not used or which you do not need.
You got here with ninety seconds to spare...
It's not as if he has money to spare...
4 [VERB] V n, V n
If you spare time or another resource for a particular purpose, you make it available for that purpose.
She said that she could only spare 35 minutes for our meeting...
He suggested that his country could not spare the troops for such an operation.
5 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed
If a person or a place is spared, they are not harmed, even though other people or places have been. (LITERARY)
We have lost everything, but thank God, our lives have been spared...
6 [VERB] V n n, V n
If you spare someone an unpleasant experience, you prevent them from suffering it.
I wanted to spare Frances the embarrassment of discussing this subject...
She's just trying to spare Shawna's feelings...
7
see also sparing
8 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
If you spare a thought for an unfortunate person, you make an effort to think sympathetically about them and their bad luck.
Spare a thought for the nation's shopkeepers-consumer sales slid again in May...spare part (spare parts)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Spare parts are parts that you can buy separately to replace old or broken parts in a piece of equipment. They are usually parts that are designed to be easily removed or fitted.spare room (spare rooms)
[N-COUNT]
A spare room is a bedroom which is kept especially for visitors to sleep in.spare time
[N-UNCOUNT] usu poss N
Your spare time is the time during which you do not have to work and you can do whatever you like.
In her spare time she read books on cooking...spare tyre (spare tyres)
in AM, use spare tire
1 [N-COUNT]
A spare tyre is a wheel with a tyre on it that you keep in your car in case you get a flat tyre and need to replace one of your wheels.
2 [N-COUNT]
If you describe someone as having a spare tyre, you mean that they are fat around the waist. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL)spare wheel (spare wheels)
[N-COUNT]
A spare wheel is a wheel with a tyre on it that you keep in your car in case you get a flat tyre and need to replace one of your wheels. (mainly BRIT; in AM, use spare tire)