spend (spĕnd)

v., spent (spĕnt), spend·ing, spends.

v.tr.

1. To use up or put out; expend: spent an hour exercising.
2. To pay out (money).
3. To wear out; exhaust: The storm finally spent itself.
4. To pass (time) in a specified manner or place: spent their vacation in Paris.
5. 1. To throw away; squander: spent all their resources on futile projects.
   2. To give up (one's time or efforts, for example) to a cause; sacrifice.

v.intr.

1. To pay out or expend money.
2. To be exhausted or consumed.

[Middle English spenden, partly from Old English -spendan (from Latin expendēre, to expend; see expend) and partly from Old French despendre, to weigh out; see dispense.]

spendable spend'a·ble adj.
spender spend'er n.

SYNONYMS   spend, disburse, expend. These verbs mean to pay or give out money or an equivalent: spent eight dollars for a movie ticket; disbursed funds from the account; expended all her energy teaching the class.
ANTONYM¹  save

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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