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sprawl
[ sprawl ]
verb (used without object)
- to be stretched or spread out in an unnatural or ungraceful manner:
The puppy's legs sprawled in all directions.
- to sit or lie in a relaxed position with the limbs spread out carelessly or ungracefully:
He sprawled across the bed.
- to spread out, extend, or be distributed in a straggling or irregular manner, as vines, buildings, handwriting, etc.
- to crawl awkwardly with the aid of all the limbs; scramble.
verb (used with object)
- to stretch out (the limbs) as in sprawling.
- to spread out or distribute in a straggling manner.
noun
- the act or an instance of sprawling; a sprawling posture.
- a straggling array of something.
sprawl
/ sprɔːl /
verb
- intr to sit or lie in an ungainly manner with one's limbs spread out
- to fall down or knock down with the limbs spread out in an ungainly way
- to spread out or cause to spread out in a straggling fashion
his handwriting sprawled all over the paper
noun
- the act or an instance of sprawling
- a sprawling posture or arrangement of items
- the urban area formed by the expansion of a town or city into surrounding countryside
the urban sprawl
- the process by which this has happened
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Derived Forms
- ˈsprawler, noun
- ˈsprawly, adjective
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Other Words From
- sprawler noun
- sprawling·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins
Origin of sprawl1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of sprawl1
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Example Sentences
“To minimize sprawl” has become a bedrock catchphrase of the core political ideology.
Obama and the Democrats have embraced the argument that suburbs and sprawl are bad for you.
Auto factories tend to sprawl horizontally over huge lots, and have flat roofs.
The goal, of course, is to facilitate ever more densification of urban areas and to rein in the dreaded suburban “sprawl.”
And when it comes to muddling through the ever-expanding sprawl of the Internet, you can never have too many tricks.
The grass still made a carpet over its roots, inviting me to sprawl at full length and renew our voiceless communion.
The black man sprang high up into the air, and shot out both his arms and his legs, coming down all a-sprawl among the heather.
The movement had stopped, and he was allowed to sprawl on the ground.
This paragon, though seventy years old, used to dress in baby's clothes and sprawl about upon the floor.
Even the multiplication table failed here, and at this, variously a-sprawl on the turf beneath, the smaller fry giggled.
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