1335
sparrow
Republicans, including well-known writers and poets such
as George ORWELL, and the US writer Ernest HEMINGWAY
wrote about the war as a news reporter. The Nationalists
won the war, and from 1939 to 1975 Spain was ruled by
FRANCO.
**Spanish 'fly** n [U] a substance made from dried insects, that
is supposed to be an APHRODISIAC (=drug causing sexual
excitement)
**Spanish in'fluenza** also ,**Spanish 'flu** n [U] a type of FLU
(=an infectious disease) which spread all over the world in
1918 and 1919, and caused more deaths than World War I.
**Spanish 'Main, the** the area around the coast of northern
South America, from which Spanish ships carried gold and
TREASURE back to Spain during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Many of these ships were attacked by PIRATES, and there are
many stories and films about the exciting adventures of the
people who sailed the Spanish Main.
**Spanish 'omelette** BrE || **Spanish omelet** AmE — n a
thick OMELETTE made with cooked vegetables such as pota-
toes, onions, and peppers
**spank¹** /spæŋk/ v [T] to strike (especially a child) with quick
force (as if) with the open hand, especially on the BUTTOCKS
→ compare SMACK —**spank** n —**ing** n [C;U] *If you don't
stop that noise, you'll get a spanking.*
**spank²** v [I+adv/prep, especially ALONG] to go or especially sail
quickly
**spank-ing¹** /'spæŋkɪŋ/ adj [A] appree quickly moving; BRISK:
*to move at a spanking pace*
**spanking²** adv infml (used before adjectives like **new, clean,
fine** etc) very; completely: *a spanking new car*
**span-ner** /'spænə/ BrE || **wrench** AmE — n **1** a metal tool
with jaws or a hollow end, for fitting over and twisting NUTS
→ see also RING SPANNER **2** **spanner in the works** BrE infml a
cause of confusion or ruin to a plan or operation: *A sudden
thunderstorm put/threw a spanner in the works and we had to
abandon our plans for a day out.*
**spar¹** /spɑːr/ n a thick pole, especially one used on a ship to
support sails or ropes → compare MAST
**spar²** v -rr- [I(with)] **1** to BOX without hitting hard, especially
in practice (between sparring partners) or in testing an
opponent's defence **2** to exchange words as if fighting or
competing: *The two MPs were sparring with each other
across the floor of the House.*
**spare¹** /speər/ v [T] **1** [(for)] to give up (someone or some-
thing that is not being used or is not needed); afford to give:
*We're so busy that no one in the office can be spared for any
other work.* | *Can you spare £5?* (=please give me £5) |
[+obj(I)+obj(D)] *Can you spare me five minutes?* (=so that I can
talk to you for a short time) | '*Have you got enough?* *Yes,
we've got **enough** and to **spare**.*' (=more than
enough) **2** [usually in questions and negatives] to keep from using,
spending etc: *No trouble was spared to make sure the guests
enjoyed themselves.* | *No expense was spared in providing
the food and wine.* (=a lot of money was spent) **3** [+obj(I)+obj(D)]
to not give (someone) (something unwelcome): *It was a
horrible accident – I'll spare you the details.* **4** [+obj(I)+obj(D)] to
save (someone) (need or trouble): *Use the telephone and spare
yourself a visit.* **5** especially *lit* to keep from punishing, harm-
ing, attacking, or killing: *Take my money but spare my life.* |
*We give thanks to God that our leader was spared.* (=did not
die) **6** **spare someone's blushes** infml to avoid making
someone feel silly and awkward, especially by praising them
too much **7** **spare the rod and spoil the child** an old
saying popular especially in the 19th century in Britain,
meaning that children need to be punished by being hit in
order to grow into well-behaved adults **8** to **spare** left over;
not used or needed for use: *We have just enough money to buy
it, with 11 pence to spare.* | *I've got a few moments to spare if
you want to talk to me.* → see also UNSPARING
**spare²** adj **1** not in use but kept for use if needed: *a spare
tyre/bedroom* **2** not needed for use; free: *What do you like
doing in your spare time?* (=when you are not working or
busy) | *Have you got a spare moment? There's something I'd
like to discuss.* **3** rather thin; LEAN **4** **go spare** BrE infml to
become very anxious and/or angry
**spare³** n **1** a second object of the same kind that is kept for
possible use **2** BrE a SPARE TYRE **3** [often pl.] BrE for SPARE PART
, **spare 'part** n a new part of a vehicle or other machine to
take the place of a part that is damaged, broken, or worn
, **spare-part 'surgery** n [U] infml the putting of an artificial
organ or an organ from a dead person into the body of a
living person, to take the place of an organ that is diseased
or damaged
, **Spare 'Rib** trademark a magazine produced in Britain by a
group of women working together. It has articles on political
subjects as well as stories by women and information on
subjects of interest to women, especially RACISM and FEMI-
NISM, and is read mainly by FEMINISTS.
**spare-ribs** /'speərɪbz/ n [P] (a dish of cooked) pig's RIBS
with the meat which sticks to them
, **spare 'room** n a bedroom in a house, which the family does
not need or use and which is usually kept for guests
, **spare 'tyre** BrE || **spare tire** AmE — n **1** an additional
wheel with a tyre on it, that you keep in a car for use if
another tyre gets damaged **2** humor a large ring of fat around
someone's waist
**spar-ing** /'speərɪŋ/ adj [(with, in, of)] using or giving little;
FRUGAL: *Whisky's expensive, so be sparing with it.* | *He was
rather sparing in giving praise.* —**ly** adv: *There's not much
left, so use it sparingly.*
**spark¹** /spɑːk||spɑːrk/ n **1** a small bit of burning material
thrown out by a fire or by the striking together of two hard
objects: *Sparks flew into the air as the burning building
collapsed.* | (fig.) *They've always hated each other, and when-
ever they meet the sparks fly.* (=there is angry quarrelling) |
(fig.) *The murder of the ambassador was the spark that set off
the war.* **2** a flash of light produced by electricity passing
across a space **3** [often] a very small but important bit, espe-
cially of a quality; TRACE: *If you had a spark of consideration
for your family you wouldn't take so many stupid risks.* | *We
couldn't even raise a spark of interest/enthusiasm for our
plan.* → see also SPARKS, BRIGHT SPARK
**spark²** v **1** [I] to produce a SPARK (1,2) **2** [T(OFF)] to be the
cause of (especially something violent or unpleasant); lead
to: *This accidental killing sparked (off) major riots in the
cities.* **3** [T] especially AmE to encourage; STIMULATE into greater
activity: *It was this incident that sparked her interest in
politics.* **4** [I] AmE infml old-fash to pay attention to a man or
woman one likes and perhaps hopes to marry; FLIRT: *They
were sparking by the gate when her father called her to come
in.*
**Spark, Dame Mu-ri-el** /'mjʊəriəl/ (1918–) a British writer
from Scotland best known for her humorous novel *The
Prime of Miss Jean Brodie* (1961), which was later made into a
successful film
**spar-kle¹** /'spɑːkəl||'spɑːr-/ v [I] to shine in small flashes:
*Her diamonds sparkled in the sunlight.* | (fig.) *His eyes sparkled
with merriment.* → see also SPARKLING
**sparkle²** n [C;U] an act or the quality of sparkling: *the sparkle
of a diamond* | (fig.) *The new play didn't have much sparkle to
it.* (=was rather dull)
**spar-kler** /'spɑːklə||'spɑːr-/ n **1** a hand-held FIREWORK usu-
ally held by children, in the form of a stick with chemicals
stuck to it that give off harmless bright sparks of fire as it
burns down → see Cultural Note at FIREWORK **2** slang a
diamond
**spark-ling** /'spɑːklɪŋ||'spɑːr-/ adj appree full of life and
brightness: *She gave a sparkling performance of the sonata.* |
*sparkling wit*
, **sparkling 'wine** n [U] a type of wine which gives off
BUBBLES of gas
**CULTURAL NOTE** Wine like this made in the Champagne
area of France is called Champagne. No other sparkling
wine can be called Champagne.
' **spark plug** also ' **sparking ,plug** BrE — n a part that screws
into a petrol engine and makes an electric SPARK to explode
the petrol mixture
**sparks** /spɑːks||spɑːrks/ n old-fash slang an electrician or radio
OPERATOR
**spar-row** /'spærəʊ/ n a small brownish bird very common in
many parts of the world → see also HEDGE SPARROW, HOUSE
SPARROW and see picture at BIRD