sparing Definition

spare
adj

1. Kept for occasional use.

Example: the spare room
2. Kept for use as a replacement.

Example: a spare wheel
3. Available for use; additional; extra.

Example: a spare seat next to me
Thesaurus: extra, superfluous, additional, remaining, leftover; Antonym: needed.
4. Lean; thin.

Thesaurus: lean, lank, slender, slight.
5. Frugal; scanty.

Thesaurus: sparse, meagre, modest, scanty, frugal; Antonym: ample, full.
6. Furious or distraught to the point of distraction.

Example: He was going spare just ‘cos he couldn't find his keys

verb spared, sparing

1. To afford to give, give away or do without.

Example: I can't spare the time
Thesaurus: afford, donate, contribute, give, yield.
2a. To refrain from harming, punishing, killing or destroying;

Example: spare his life
Example: spare their feelings
Thesaurus: forgive, reprieve, pardon, allow, acquit.
2b. To avoid causing or bringing on something.

Example: will spare your blushes
3. To avoid incurring something.

Example: no expense spared

noun

1. A duplicate kept in reserve for use as a replacement.
2. A spare tyre.
3a. ten-pin bowling.
The act of knocking down all ten pins with two bowls;
3b. ten-pin bowling.
The score when this happens.

Derivative: sparely
adverb

Derivative: spareness
noun

Idiom: to spare

Left over; surplus to what is required.
Example: I have one cake to spare
Thesaurus: in excess, left over, remaining, in abundance.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon sparian.

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sparing
adj

1. Inclined to be economical or frugal, often to the point of inadequacy or meanness.

Example: School cooks were sparing with raisins
Thesaurus: frugal, niggardly, stingy, tight, avaricious, chary, thrifty, economical, prudent.
2. Restrained, reserved or uncommunicative.

Example: He's very sparing with the truth
Thesaurus: merciful, humane, compassionate, mild, tolerant.

Derivative: sparingly
adverb

Derivative: sparingness
noun