spar

[ spahr ]

See synonyms for spar on Thesaurus.com

noun

Nautical. a stout pole such as those used for masts, etc.; a mast, yard, boom, gaff, or the like.
Aeronautics. a principal lateral member of the framework of a wing of an airplane.

verb (used with object),sparred, spar·ring.

to provide or make with spars.

Origin of spar

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English spar(r)e, sperre, sper “a board, rafter, beam”; cognate with German Sparren, Dutch, Frisian spar, Old Norse sparri

Other words from spar

sparlike, adjective

Other definitions for spar (2 of 5)

spar²

[ spahr ]

verb (used without object),sparred, spar·ring.

(of boxers) to make the motions of attack and defense with the arms and fists, especially as a part of training.
to box, especially with light blows.

to strike or attack with the feet or spurs, as gamecocks do.
to bandy words; dispute.

noun

a motion of sparring.
a boxing match.

a dispute.

Origin of spar

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English spar(r)en “to go quickly, rush, dart, thrust”; further origin unknown

Other definitions for spar (3 of 5)

spar³

[ spahr ]

noun

any of various more or less lustrous crystalline minerals, as fluorspar or feldspar.

Origin of spar

First recorded in 1575–85; from Middle Low German spar, sper; akin to Old English spær(stān) “gypsum, chalk”

Other words from spar

sparlike, adjective

Other definitions for SPAR (4 of 5)

SPAR

or Spar

[ spahr ]

noun

(during World War II) a woman enlisted in the women's reserve of the U.S. Coast Guard (disbanded in 1946).

Origin of SPAR

⁴

1942; <Latin S(emper) par(ātus) “Always ready” the Coast Guard motto

Other definitions for SpAr (5 of 5)

SpAr

abbreviation

Spanish Arabic.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use spar in a sentence

After he died, they alternately allied and sparred with each other.
China’s Forgotten Traumas in World War Two | Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom | September 18, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
The two sparred over music, too, Curtis told Talking Points Memo.
Paul Kevin Curtis and J. Everett Dutschke: Epic Feud and Ricin Letters | Winston Ross | April 25, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
(2) I have frequently sparred on Twitter with the NeFU's spokesman, Graham Christensen.
Let's Put the Nebraska Senate Race in Proper Context | Justin Green | October 30, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
John Mellencamp also sparred with the Gipper when he tried to use “Little Pink Houses” during the campaign.
The Strange History of Political Campaign Songs (VIDEO) | Kevin Fallon | October 24, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
In July, the 54-year-old pop star sparred with France's far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, 44.
Madonna Caves in French Swastika Kerfuffle | Tracy McNicoll | August 22, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST

I have a room now, a part of the twelve-foot verandah sparred in, at the most inaccessible end of the house.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 25 (of 25) | Robert Louis Stevenson
A long-sparred vessel could be seen, relieved against the black bank of clouds, that were crowding down the horizon.
The Portland Sketch Book | Various
You must consider what has been said by Mr. Beresford-Hope on this subject; he and I have sparred about this matter before now.
Edward Hoare, M.A. | Edward Hoare
It was a big ship—heavily sparred—and it was riding along with all sail set over a sea like corrugated iron.
The Viking Blood | Frederick William Wallace
It always made me think of the deep blue sea, of old tars, and tall-sparred, white-sailed brigs.
Tales of Fishes | Zane Grey

British Dictionary definitions for spar (1 of 3)

spar¹

/ (spɑː) /

noun

- any piece of nautical gear resembling a pole and used as a mast, boom, gaff, etc
- (as modifier): a spar buoy
a principal supporting structural member of an aerofoil that runs from tip to tip or root to tip

Origin of spar

C13: from Old Norse sperra beam; related to Old High German sparro, Old French esparre

British Dictionary definitions for spar (2 of 3)

spar²

/ (spɑː) /

verbspars, sparring or sparred (intr)

boxing martial arts to fight using light blows, as in training
to dispute or argue

(of gamecocks) to fight with the feet or spurs

noun

an unaggressive fight
an argument or wrangle

informal a close friend

Origin of spar

Old English, perhaps from spur

British Dictionary definitions for spar (3 of 3)

spar³

/ (spɑː) /

noun

any of various minerals, such as feldspar or calcite, that are light-coloured, microcrystalline, transparent to translucent, and easily cleavable: Related adjective: spathic

Origin of spar

C16: from Middle Low German spar; related to Old English spærstān; see feldspar

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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