Spar Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 5, 2024
Spar means to practice fighting techniques without intent to injure, or a sturdy pole used in ship rigging. e.g., The boxers sparred with each other in the ring.
Table of Contents
Spar Definitions
A strong pole used to support sails on a ship.
The sailor climbed up the spar to adjust the sails.
To argue or dispute, especially in a playful or friendly manner.
The siblings would often spar over trivial matters.
A bar or rod used in construction or machinery.
The builder used a metal spar to reinforce the structure.
To practice boxing or martial arts techniques lightly.
They sparred every morning as part of their training.
To simulate combat as a training exercise.
The soldiers sparred to prepare for potential hand-to-hand combat.
To challenge or provoke in a discussion or debate.
The politician sparred with his opponent during the debate.
(Nautical) A wooden or metal pole, such as a mast, boom, yard, or bowsprit, used to support sails and rigging.
A usually metal pole used as part of a crane or derrick.
A main structural member in an airplane wing or a tail assembly that runs from tip to tip or from root to tip.
A motion of attack or defense in boxing.
A sparring match.
A nonmetallic, readily cleavable, translucent or transparent light-colored mineral with a shiny luster, such as feldspar.
A member of the women's reserve of the US Coast Guard, disbanded as a separate unit in 1946.
To supply with spars.
(Obsolete) To fasten with a bolt.
To fight with an opponent in a short bout or practice session, as in boxing or the martial arts.
To make boxing or fighting motions without hitting one's opponent.
To bandy words about in argument; dispute.
To fight by striking with the feet and spurs. Used of gamecocks.
A rafter of a roof.
A thick pole or piece of wood.
(obsolete) A bar of wood used to fasten a door.
(nautical) Any linear object used as a mast, sprit, yard, boom, pole or gaff.
(aeronautics) A beam-like structural member that supports ribs in an aircraft wing or other airfoil.
A sparring session; a preliminary fight, as in boxing or cock-fighting.
(MLE) A friend, a mate, a pal.
(mineralogy) Any of various microcrystalline minerals, of light, translucent, or transparent appearance, which are easily cleft.
(mineralogy) Any crystal with readily discernible faces.
To bolt, bar.
(transitive) To supply or equip (a vessel) with spars.
To fight, especially as practice for martial arts or hand-to-hand combat.
To strike with the feet or spurs, as cocks do.
To contest in words; to wrangle.
An old name for a nonmetallic mineral, usually cleavable and somewhat lustrous; as, calc spar, or calcite, fluor spar, etc. It was especially used in the case of the gangue minerals of a metalliferous vein.
A general term any round piece of timber used as a mast, yard, boom, or gaff.
Formerly, a piece of timber, in a general sense; - still applied locally to rafters.
The bar of a gate or door.
A contest at sparring or boxing.
A movement of offense or defense in boxing.
To bolt; to bar.
To To supply or equip with spars, as a vessel.
To strike with the feet or spurs, as cocks do.
To use the fists and arms scientifically in attack or defense; to contend or combat with the fists, as for exercise or amusement; to box.
Made believe to spar at Paul with great science.
To contest in words; to wrangle.
Any of various nonmetallic minerals (calcite or feldspar) that are light in color and transparent or translucent and cleavable
A stout rounded pole of wood or metal used to support rigging
Making the motions of attack and defense with the fists and arms; a part of training for a boxer
Furnish with spars
Fight with spurs;
The gamecocks were sparring
Box lightly
Fight verbally;
They were sparring all night
To engage in a practice fight or playful combat.
The martial artists sparred to improve their skills.
A verbal exchange of points or arguments.
The debaters sparred passionately on the topic.
A mineral crystal, often used as a gemstone.
The geologist admired the spar's unique crystalline structure.
To contend or compete with someone.
The athletes sparred for the championship title.
Spar Snonyms
Fence
To practice the art of fencing or engage in a fencing match.
They fenced with wooden swords to improve their technique.
Box
To fight with the fists, especially as a sport.
The athletes box in the ring, aiming to win the championship.
Tussle
To engage in a vigorous struggle or scuffle.
The puppies tussle with each other playfully in the yard.
Scrimmage
To engage in a rough or vigorous struggle.
The rugby players scrimmage to gain control of the ball.
Duel
To fight a duel or engage in single combat.
In historical times, men would duel to defend their honor.
Wrestle
To engage in a physical contest by grappling and attempting to throw or immobilize the opponent.
They wrestled on the mat during the competition.
Joust
To engage in a combat or competition; originally referred to knights on horseback.
Medieval knights would joust in tournaments to display their prowess.
Combat
To fight or contend against; engage in a fight.
Soldiers are trained to combat in various environments.
Skirmish
A brief fight or encounter between small groups, often part of a larger battle.
The platoons engaged in a skirmish to secure the hill.
Clash
To come into conflict or opposition; to engage in a physical confrontation.
The rival football fans clashed after the match.
Spar Idioms & Phrases
Spar in the ring of politics
To engage in political debates or conflicts.
As a senator, he was known to spar in the ring of politics.
Spar with words
To engage in a verbal argument or debate.
The politicians sparred with words during the televised debate.
Spar against opinions
To argue against differing viewpoints or opinions.
She would often spar against opinions she found unjust or biased.
Spar for practice
To engage in a debate or argument as a form of practice.
They would often spar for practice to sharpen their debating skills.
Spar over details
To argue or quibble over minor details.
The committee members sparred over details of the proposal.
Spar for position
To argue or compete for a particular status or position.
Candidates sparred for position during the election campaign.
Spar of intellect
An intellectual argument or competition.
The academic conference was a spar of intellect, with many challenging presentations.
Mental spar
A debate or argument that challenges the intellect.
The chess game turned into a mental spar between the two grandmasters.
Spar of words
An exchange of argumentative or challenging remarks.
The debate was a lively spar of words between the two experts.
Spar for supremacy
To compete or argue for ultimate dominance or control.
The rival companies sparred for supremacy in the marketplace.
Spar for rights
To argue or fight for one's rights or beliefs.
The activists sparred for rights in the court of law.
Spar of wits
A contest or exchange that tests cleverness or intelligence.
The debate club's meetings were often a spar of wits.
Friendly spar
A light-hearted debate or argument without serious conflict.
Their discussion was a friendly spar, with both enjoying the intellectual exchange.
Verbal spar
An argument or exchange that involves quick, witty remarks.
Their conversation was a verbal spar, full of clever quips and retorts.
Spar at dawn
To begin a debate, argument, or competition early or at the start of an endeavor.
The lawyers were ready to spar at dawn, preparing for a tough day in court.
Spar over ideas
To engage in a debate or argument about different ideas or concepts.
The scientists sparred over ideas regarding the new theory.
Spar in debate
To engage vigorously in a formal debate.
The candidates prepared to spar in the upcoming televised debate.
Spar for clarity
To argue or discuss in order to achieve clearer understanding.
The scientists sparred for clarity over the complex data.
Spar of strategy
An argument or discussion focused on tactical or strategic considerations.
The military leaders engaged in a spar of strategy to plan the next move.
Spar in jest
To engage in a mock argument or playful banter.
They often sparred in jest, teasing each other without malice.
Spar Example Sentences
The gymnasts used a wooden spar for balance exercises.
The students sparred under the watchful eye of their instructor.
They would often spar verbally, but it was always in good humor.
In the gym, the boxers sparred in short, controlled rounds.
On the old ship, the main spar was made of sturdy oak.
To improve their skills, the wrestlers would spar regularly.
The two friends liked to spar in their karate class.
He used the spar to prop up the fallen branch.
The young fencers sparred with foils in their first lesson.
The spar provided essential support for the building's roof.
Their playful spar turned into a serious debate.
In the debate club, she learned to spar effectively with words.
The two politicians would frequently spar on live television.
During training, they learned how to spar without causing injury.
The spar in the rock formation caught the sunlight beautifully.
Common Curiosities
How do we divide spar into syllables?
Since "spar" has only one syllable, it is not divided.
What is the root word of spar?
The root word of "spar" is the Old Norse "sparr."
How many syllables are in spar?
There is one syllable in "spar."
How is spar used in a sentence?
Example: "The two boxers will spar with each other to prepare for the match."
Why is it called spar?
"Spar" originates from the Old Norse word "sparr," meaning a beam or rafter, reflecting its original use in shipbuilding. As a verb, it comes from the practice of fighting with spars or practice swords.
What is a stressed syllable in spar?
The entire word "spar" is stressed as it is a single syllable.
What is the pronunciation of spar?
Spar is pronounced as /spɑːr/.
What is the second form of spar?
The second form (past simple form) of "spar" as a verb is "sparred."
Is spar an adverb?
No, "spar" is not an adverb.
What is the verb form of spar?
"Spar" itself is the verb form.
What is the first form of spar?
The first form (present form) of "spar" as a verb is "spar."
Is spar a noun or adjective?
"Spar" is primarily a noun and can also be a verb. It is not an adjective.
Is spar a collective noun?
"Spar" is not typically used as a collective noun.
Which determiner is used with spar?
Determiners like "the," "a," or "this" can be used with "spar."
What is the third form of spar?
The third form (past participle form) of "spar" as a verb is "sparred."
What part of speech is spar?
"Spar" can be both a noun and a verb.
Is spar a vowel or consonant?
The word "spar" starts with a consonant.
What is the singular form of spar?
The singular form is "spar."
What is the opposite of spar?
The opposite of "spar" (verb) is "agree" or "harmonize."
Is spar a countable noun?
Yes, "spar" is a countable noun.
Is the word spar imperative?
"Spar" can be used in the imperative form, as in "Spar with your partner for practice."
Which article is used with spar?
Articles such as "the" or "a" can be used with "spar," depending on the context.
What is the plural form of spar?
The plural form is "spars."
Is spar an abstract noun?
"Spar" is not an abstract noun; as a noun, it refers to a physical object or action.
Is spar a negative or positive word?
"Spar" is neutral; its connotation depends on the context.
Is the spar term a metaphor?
"Spar" can be used metaphorically, especially in the context of arguments or debates.
Is the word spar Gerund?
The gerund form of "spar" is "sparring."
Is the word “spar” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
In a sentence, "spar" can be a direct object when used as a verb.
Which conjunction is used with spar?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used with "spar," depending on the sentence.
What is another term for spar?
Another term for "spar" (verb) is "practice fight" or "scrimmage."
Which vowel is used before spar?
The vowel used before "spar" depends on the context of the sentence.
Which preposition is used with spar?
Common prepositions used with "spar" include "with" and "against."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
