spacer

noun

spac·​er ˈspā-sər How to pronounce spacer (audio)
plural spacers
: a device or piece used to create or maintain a desired amount of space (as between two parts)
As long as your joints look even, it's more important that you avoid a large grout line at the last tile than worry about sticking to the exact measurement of the spacer.Jennifer Stimpson
Stiff spacers of low-expansion materials … may be used to provide a fixed spacing between the end mirrors.Arthur L. Schawlow
Use wood shims or spacers where necessary to compensate for wavy ceilings and to make certain the bottom surfaces of all strips are flush.Bernard Gladstone

Examples of spacer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Add in Martin and/or Highsmith when either is able to return, and there is another defensive component and floor spacer in the first unit, which, in turn, then allows for a second unit of Robinson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kevin Love and either Highsmith or Martin as the core. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2024 Screw in spacers with 1-1/4-inch screws to the bottoms of the DIY mailboxes. Lucy Fitzgerald, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2024 Metal spacers can be fitted to provide the correct clearance and mechanical stability. IEEE Spectrum, 30 Jan. 2024 Its lightweight spacer fabric has a drapey design that’s great for spring. Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024 Then, be sure to use the delicate fabric spacer to protect trims and more fine fabrics. Neha Tandon, Peoplemag, 9 Jan. 2024 It's made of a luxuriously soft and stretchy spacer fabric, which has a thick, three-dimensional quality and a light-as-air feel. Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2023 In fact, the entire knife is blacked-out, with black oxide handle screws, pocket clip, and back spacer. T. Edward Nickens, Field & Stream, 5 Oct. 2023 That’s because the loungewear is made with soft spacer fabric that offers four-way stretch. Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spacer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spacer was in 1857

Dictionary Entries Near spacer

Cite this Entry

“Spacer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spacer. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

spacer

noun
spac·​er ˈspā-sər How to pronounce spacer (audio)
: a region of chromosomal DNA between genes that is not transcribed into messenger RNA and is of uncertain function
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