spare*/

[speə] adj I

1) kept in addition to other similar things, so that you can use it if you need it

a spare key/battery[/ex]

Bring a towel and some spare clothes.[/ex]

2) available

Have you got any spare room in your car?[/ex]

II

verb [T]

spare [speə]

1) if you can spare something, you can give or lend it to someone because you do not need it

Can you spare a couple of pounds?[/ex]

We can't spare the staff for training sessions.[/ex]

2) if you can spare time, you have it available

Can you spare a couple of hours on Tuesday?[/ex]

We arrived at the airport with just 20 minutes to spare.[/ex]

It's kind of you to spare me a moment.[/ex]

3) to prevent someone from experiencing something that is unpleasant or painful

I want to spare her the embarrassment of asking for money.[/ex]

4) if you do not spare something, you use a lot of it in order to make something succeed

We will spare no effort to find the murderer.[/ex]

No expense was spared in organizing the conference.[/ex]

5) formal

to not harm or kill someone or something

The commander was so impressed by their bravery that he spared them.[/ex]

•

money/room/time etc to spare — more than enough money, room, time, etc[/ex]

We've got food to spare.[/ex]

III

noun [C]

spare [speə]

something that you have in addition to other similar things, that you can use if you need it