span

[ span ]

/ spæn /

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See synonyms for span on Thesaurus.com

noun

the distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully extended.

a unit of length corresponding to this distance, commonly taken as 9 inches (23 centimeters).

a distance, amount, piece, etc., of this length or of some small extent: a span of lace.

Civil Engineering, Architecture.

the distance between two supports of a structure.
the structure so supported.
the distance or space between two supports of a bridge.

the full extent, stretch, or reach of anything: a long span of memory.

Aeronautics. the distance between the wing tips of an airplane.

a limited space of time, as the term or period of living: Our span on earth is short.

Mathematics. the smallest subspace of a vector space that contains a given element or set of elements.

verb (used with object), spanned, span·ning.

to measure by the hand with the thumb and little finger extended.

to encircle with the hand or hands, as the waist.

to extend over or across (a section of land, a river, etc.).

to provide with something that extends over: to span a river with a bridge.

to extend or reach over (space or time): a memory that spans 90 years.

Mathematics. to function (in a subspace of a vector space) as a span.

Archery. to bend (the bow) in preparation for shooting.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of span

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun spanne, sponne, spayn, Old English span(n), spon(n); cognate with German Spanne, Dutch span, Old Norse spǫnn; the verb is derivative of the noun

Other definitions for span (2 of 4)

span²

[ span ]

/ spæn /

noun

a pair of horses or other animals harnessed and driven together.

OTHER WORDS FOR span

team.

See synonyms for span on Thesaurus.com

Origin of span

An Americanism dating to 1760–70; from Dutch: “team (of oxen, horses)”

synonym study for span

See pair.

Other definitions for span (3 of 4)

span³

[ span ]

/ spæn /

verb Archaic.

a simple past tense of spin.

Other definitions for span (4 of 4)

Span.

abbreviation

Spaniard.

Spanish.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use span in a sentence

What’s more, the 13 states with mandates tallied 50,000 fewer excess deaths in a six-week span.
When states mandate masks, fewer people catch COVID-19||November 20, 2020|Popular-Science
For example, last year, Qantas famously tested out three globe-spanning journeys it referred to as “research” flights for “Project Sunrise.”
The world’s longest commercial flights, by the numbers|Rob Verger|November 20, 2020|Popular-Science
Maryland does not release the names or positions of any player who contracts the virus, and the school has not provided information more specific than a cumulative total of positive results during these week-long spans.
Maryland football is ‘committed to getting back,’ but timeline for return is unclear|Emily Giambalvo|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Topics span a galaxy’s worth of technology, including 3D-printed rockets, earth observation data, orbital operations, ground station networks, launch services, broadband communications, defense operations and manufacturing in space.
Prices increase tonight for our space-focused event, TC Sessions: Space|Alexandra Ames|November 20, 2020|TechCrunch

The athletic department had a spike in cases in early September when 46 athletes, spanning 10 teams, tested positive for the coronavirus.
Maryland, with 15 more players and its coach positive for coronavirus, cancels Michigan State game|Emily Giambalvo|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
Spanning more than 150 years, the exhibit exhaustively distinguishes designer pieces from licensed copies, adaptations, and fakes.
The Big Business of Fashion Counterfeits|Lizzie Crocker|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I found this book made me feel connected to a community of sufferers both real and fictional, spanning centuries.
Book Bag: Reading Your Way Out Of Grief|Anna Whiston-Donaldson|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You stand on an unsteady pontoon bridge spanning the Tigris River in a township called Adh Dhouloueya.
Whatever You Do Someone Will Die. A Short Story About Impossible Choices in Iraq|Nathan Bradley Bethea|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These huge galaxies live in clusters: associations of hundreds or thousands of galaxies spanning millions of light-years across.
The Care and Feeding of Baby Giant Galaxies|Matthew R. Francis|May 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The other seven dispensaries, spanning from coast to coast, are death traps for thousands of sea organisms each year.
New Report Reveals U.S. Fisheries Killing Thousands of Protected and Endangered Species|Abby Haglage|March 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One of those which remained was an enormous spruce about ninety feet long, spanning the stream directly against Moran's Camp.
Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail|Arthur R. Thompson
Captain Oliver Brown and Thompson were to hold the bridges spanning the two rivers.
The Raid of John Brown at Harper's Ferry as I Saw It|Rev. Samuel Vanderlip Leech
All horrent the cobra exalts his hooded head, and the spanning jaws fly open.
The Fiend's Delight|Dod Grile
Immediately in front the light sifts down upon a rude bridge spanning a narrow stream.
The Saxons|Edwin Davies Schoonmaker
To reach it we crossed a small bridge spanning what seemed to be a small river with sluice-gates, just as we had thought.
The Riddle of the Sands|Erskine Childers

British Dictionary definitions for span (1 of 4)

span¹

/ (spæn) /

noun

the interval, space, or distance between two points, such as the ends of a bridge or arch

the complete duration or extentthe span of his life

psychol the amount of material that can be processed in a single mental actapprehension span; span of attention

short for wingspan

a unit of length based on the width of an expanded hand, usually taken as nine inches

verb spans, spanning or spanned (tr)

to stretch or extend across, over, or around

to provide with something that extends across or aroundto span a river with a bridge

to measure or cover, esp with the extended hand

Word Origin for span

Old English spann; related to Old Norse sponn, Old High German spanna

British Dictionary definitions for span (2 of 4)

span²

/ (spæn) /

noun

a team of horses or oxen, esp two matched animals

Word Origin for span

C16 (in the sense: yoke): from Middle Dutch: something stretched, from spannen to stretch; see span 1

British Dictionary definitions for span (3 of 4)

span³

/ (spæn) /

verb

archaic, or dialect a past tense of spin

British Dictionary definitions for span (4 of 4)

Span.

abbreviation for

Spanish

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with span

span

see spick and span.

span

Origin of span

Other definitions for span (2 of 4)

OTHER WORDS FOR span

Origin of span

synonym study for span

Other definitions for span (3 of 4)

Other definitions for span (4 of 4)

Words related to span

How to use span in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for span (1 of 4)

Word Origin for span

British Dictionary definitions for span (2 of 4)

Word Origin for span

British Dictionary definitions for span (3 of 4)

British Dictionary definitions for span (4 of 4)

Other Idioms and Phrases with span