spar

Meanings

1. 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. 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. 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. 4
   noun

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

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

Common collocations

• heavy spar Adjective + noun

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

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images