释义 |
spar I. \ˈspär, -pȧ(r\ transitive verb (sparred ; sparred ; sparring ; spars) Etymology: partly from Middle English sperren, from Middle Dutch; partly from Middle English sparren, from Old English gesparrian; akin to Middle Dutch & Old High German sperren to bolt, lock, hamper, Old Norse sperra to bolt, bar, sparri beam, rafter — more at spar II 1. archaic : bolt, bar, fasten 2. a. obsolete : shut, close b. obsolete : to shut up : enclose II. noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English sparre; akin to Middle Dutch sparre beam, rafter, Old High German sparro, Old Norse sparri beam, rafter, Old English spere spear — more at spear 1. archaic : rafter 2. a. : a pole or moderately thick piece of timber b. : a stout rounded typically solid piece of wood or metal (as a mast, boom, gaff, yard) used to support rigging — see ship illustration c. (1) : one of the main longitudinal members of the wing of an airplane that carry the ribs (2) : longeron 3. : a thin doubled stick used in fastening thatch on roofs III. transitive verb (sparred ; sparred ; sparring ; spars) : to move or assist (a stranded ship) with a spar or with spar and tackle IV. verb (sparred ; sparred ; sparring ; spars) Etymology: probably alteration of spur (II) intransitive verb 1. : to strike or fight with the feet or spurs like a gamecock 2. : to contest in words : wrangle < the gabble of the vegetable men as they sparred with women at the open stalls outside their stores — Hortense Calisher > 3. a. : box; especially : to make offensive and defensive gestures without landing a blow in order to draw one's opponent and find or create an opening b. : to engage in a practice or exhibition bout especially of scientific boxing with a sparring partner 4. : to engage in a skirmish < along the ground front … troops sparred in scattered fights — New York Times > 5. : to move or act slowly or inconclusively : stall < seems to spar for time by asking that questions be repeated — Jerome Frank > transitive verb : to teach (a gamecock) to fight : train for fighting V. noun (-s) 1. a. : a movement of offense or defense in boxing b. : a sparring match or session 2. : a wrangle or dispute especially between well-matched opponents : a contest of thrust and counter VI. noun (-s) Etymology: Low German, from Middle Low German; akin to Old English spærstān gypsum, chalk, spæren of plaster : any of various nonmetallic usually cleavable and somewhat lustrous minerals; especially : such a mineral occurring as gangue in a metalliferous vein — compare calcspar, feldspar, fluorite VII. noun (-s) Usage: usually capitalized Etymology: from Semper Paratus, motto of the United States Coast Guard from New Latin, always ready : a member of the Women's Reserve of the United States Coast Guard formed during World War II |