Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Origin: Probably from spur

spar

1 verb
     
Related topics: Sport
spar1 past tense and past participle sparred, present participle sparring [intransitive]
1DS to practise boxing with someone
spar with
He broke his nose while sparring with Vega.
2 to argue with someone but not in an unpleasant way
spar over
Senators are sparring over the health bill.
spar with
He's been sparring with the security guards.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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