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4 N‑COUNT The spend on a particular thing is the amount of money that is spent on it, or will be spent. [BUSINESS ] □  …the marketing and advertising spend.

spend|er /spe ndə ^r / (spenders ) N‑COUNT [usu adj N ] If a person or organization is a big spender or a compulsive spender , for example, they spend a lot of money or are unable to stop themselves spending money. □  The Swiss are Europe's biggest spenders on food.

spe nd|ing mon|ey N‑UNCOUNT Spending money is money that you have or are given to spend on personal things for pleasure, especially when you are on holiday. □  You can rapidly use up your spending money buying drinks.

spend|thrift /spe ndθr I ft/ (spendthrifts ) N‑COUNT If you call someone a spendthrift , you mean that they spend too much money. [DISAPPROVAL ] ● ADJ [usu ADJ n] Spendthrift is also an adjective. □  …his father's spendthrift ways.

spent /spe nt/

1Spent is the past tense and past participle of spend .

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Spent substances or containers have been used and cannot be used again. □  Radioactive waste is simply spent fuel.

spe nt fo rce N‑SING If you refer to someone who used to be powerful as a spent force , you mean that they no longer have any power or influence. □  As a political leader he was something of a spent force.

sperm /spɜː ^r m/ (sperms or sperm )

1 N‑COUNT A sperm is a cell which is produced in the sex organs of a male animal and can enter a female animal's egg and fertilize it. □  Any disease which undermines a man's general health will interfere with his sperm production. □  Doctor believed that his low sperm count was the problem.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Sperm is used to refer to the liquid that contains sperm when it is produced. □  …a sperm donor.

sper|ma|to|zo|on /spɜː ^r mətəzoʊ ɒn/ (spermatozoa /spɜː ^r mətəzoʊ ə/) N‑COUNT A spermatozoon is a sperm. [TECHNICAL ]

sper|mi|ci|dal /spɜː ^r m I sa I d ^ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] A spermicidal cream or jelly contains spermicide.

sper|mi|cide /spɜː ^r m I sa I d/ (spermicides ) N‑VAR Spermicide is a substance that kills sperm. □  Although most condoms contain spermicide, there are some manufactured without.

spe rm whale (sperm whales ) N‑COUNT A sperm whale is a large whale with a large head that has a section in it which contains oil.

spew /spjuː / (spews , spewing , spewed )

1 VERB When something spews out a substance or when a substance spews from something, the substance flows out quickly in large quantities. □ [V n with adv] The volcano spewed out more scorching volcanic ashes, gases and rocks. □ [V prep] Leaking oil spewed from the tanker.

2 VERB If someone spews or spews up , they vomit. [INFORMAL ]

sphere /sf I ə ^r / (spheres )

1 N‑COUNT A sphere is an object that is completely round in shape like a ball.

2 N‑COUNT A sphere of activity or interest is a particular area of activity or interest. □ [+ of ] …the sphere of international politics. □ [+ of ] …nurses, working in all spheres of the health service.

3 N‑COUNT A sphere of people is a group of them who are similar in social status or who have the same interests. □ [+ of ] …the realities of life outside the government and academic spheres of society.

spheri|cal /sfe r I k ^ə l, [AM ] sf I r-/ ADJ Something that is spherical is round like a ball. [FORMAL ] □  …purple and gold spherical earrings.

sphinc|ter /sf I ŋktə ^r / (sphincters ) N‑COUNT A sphincter is a ring of muscle that surrounds an opening to the body and that can tighten to close this opening. [TECHNICAL ] □  …the anal sphincter.