any of various nonmetallic minerals (calcite or feldspar) that are light in color and transparent or translucent and cleavable
<noun.substance>
a stout rounded pole of wood or metal used to support rigging
<noun.artifact>
making the motions of attack and defense with the fists and arms; a part of training for a boxer
<noun.act> [ verb ]
furnish with spars
<verb.possession>
fight with spurs
<verb.contact> the gamecocks were sparring
box lightly
<verb.contact>
fight verbally
<verb.communication> They were sparring all night
Spar \Spar\, n. [OE. sparre; akin to D. spar, G. sparren, OHG. sparro, Dan. & Sw. sparre, Icel. sparri; of uncertain origin. [root]171. Cf. {Spar}, v. t. ] 1. (Naut.) A general term any round piece of timber used as a mast, yard, boom, or gaff.
2. (Arch.) Formerly, a piece of timber, in a general sense; -- still applied locally to rafters.
3. The bar of a gate or door. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
{Spar buoy} (Naut.), a buoy anchored by one end so that the other end rises above the surface of the water.
{Spar deck} (Naut.), the upper deck of a vessel; especially, in a frigate, the deck which is continued in a straight line from the quarter-deck to the forecastle, and on which spare spars are usually placed. See under {Deck}.
{Spar torpedo} (Naut.), a torpedo carried on the end of a spar usually projecting from the bow of a vessel, and intended to explode upon contact with an enemy's ships.
Spar \Spar\, n. 1. A contest at sparring or boxing.
2. A movement of offense or defense in boxing.
Spar \Spar\, v. t. [OE. sparren, AS. sparrian; akin to G. sperren, Icel. sperra; from the noun. [root]171. See {Spara} beam, bar.] 1. To bolt; to bar. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
2. To To supply or equip with spars, as a vessel.
Note: A vessel equipped with spars that are too large or too small is said to be oversparred or undersparred.
Spar \Spar\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sparred}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Sparring}.] [Of uncertain origin; cf. OF. esparer to kick, F. ['e]parer, or Icel. sperra to stretch out the legs, to struggle.] 1. To strike with the feet or spurs, as cocks do.
2. 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. --Dickens.
3. To contest in words; to wrangle. [Colloq.]
spar \spar\ (sp[aum]r), n. [AS. sp[ae]r in sp[ae]rst[=a]n chalkstone; akin to MHG. spar, G. sparkalk plaster.] (Min.) 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.
{Blue spar}, {Cube spar}, etc. See under {Blue}, {Cube}, etc.
Under one approach, if a wing spar failed in testing at 100,000 flights, the airlines would be required to replace or repair the part at 50,000 flights to ensure a comfortable margin of safety.
Those who want to hit but not get hit can spar with trainers who won't hit back.
Senior aides such as pollster Robert Teeter and media consultant Roger Ailes were happy to have their man spar with Dan Rather, but they didn't want Mr. Bush to risk having a new idea.