spar

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /spɑɹ/ UK /spɑː/ See IPA manual

Freq #24280

Meanings

1

verb
to practice boxing or another combat sport with controlled blows

The two boxers spar for several rounds before beginning their main workout.
2

verb
to argue or exchange opposing remarks, often in a lively but not wholly serious way

The candidates continued to spar over tax policy during the debate.
3

noun
a stout pole forming part of a ship's mast, yard, boom, or other rigging

A broken spar left the yacht's sail hanging loose.
4

noun
a light-colored crystalline mineral that splits readily along smooth planes

The geologist identified the pale crystal as a variety of spar.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to practice boxing or... practice-fightbox

2 verb · to argue or exchange... argue debate wrangle

3 noun · a stout pole forming part... pole beam

4 noun · a light-colored crystalline... crystalline mineral

Opposites

reconcile agree

Word family

Derived forms calcsparfeldsparfluorsparsparlesssparlike

Related forms sparringmast boom yard

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

heavy spar
The dense mineral barite, composed of barium sulfate.

Adjective + noun

Etymology

The pole noun comes from Middle English sparre, a Germanic word for a rafter or pole. The fight verb descends from Middle English sparren, "to strike or thrust," of uncertain origin; boxing and verbal-dispute senses followed. The mineral noun is separate, from Low German Spar, related to Old English spaerstan, "gypsum."

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# spar

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /spɑɹ/
**IPA (UK):** /spɑː/
**Frequency rank:** 24280

## Meanings
1. to practice boxing or another combat sport with controlled blows
2. to argue or exchange opposing remarks, often in a lively but not wholly serious way
3. a stout pole forming part of a ship's mast, yard, boom, or other rigging
4. a light-colored crystalline mineral that splits readily along smooth planes

## Examples
- The two boxers spar for several rounds before beginning their main workout.
- The candidates continued to spar over tax policy during the debate.
- A broken spar left the yacht's sail hanging loose.
- The geologist identified the pale crystal as a variety of spar.

## Synonyms
- practice-fight
- argue
- debate
- pole
- beam

## Antonyms
- reconcile
- agree

## Derived Forms
- calcspar
- feldspar
- fluorspar
- sparless
- sparlike

## Related Forms
- sparring
- mast
- boom
- yard

## Etymology
The pole noun comes from Middle English sparre, a Germanic word for a rafter or pole. The fight verb descends from Middle English sparren, "to strike or thrust," of uncertain origin; boxing and verbal-dispute senses followed. The mineral noun is separate, from Low German Spar, related to Old English spaerstan, "gypsum."

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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