spend v.tr. (past
and past part. spent) 1 (usu. foll. by on) a (also absol.) pay
out (money) in
making a
purchase etc. (spent ø5 on a
new pen). b pay out (money)
for a
particular person's
benefit or for
the improvement of a
thing (had to spend ø200 on the car). 2 a
use or
consume (time or energy) (shall spend no
more effort; how do
you spend
your Sundays?). b (also refl.) use
up;
exhaust; wear out (their
ammunition was all spent;
his anger was
soon spent; spent
herself campaigning for justice). 3 tr. (as spent adj.) having
lost its original force or
strength; exhausted (the
storm is spent; spent bullets). øspending
money pocket money. spend a
penny Brit. colloq.
urinate or
defecate (from the coin-operated locks of
public lavatories). øøspendable adj. spender n. [OE spendan f. L expendere (see EXPEND): in ME perh.
also f. obs. dispend f. OF despendre
expend f. L dispendere: see DISPENSE]