splay

American  

[spley] / spleɪ /

verb (used with object)

1. to spread out, expand, or extend.

2. to form with an oblique angle; make slanting; bevel.

3. to make with a splay or splays.

4. to disjoin; dislocate.

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verb (used without object)

1. to have an oblique or slanting direction.

2. to spread or flare.

noun

1. Architecture. a surface that makes an oblique angle with another, as where the opening through a wall for a window or door widens from the window or door proper toward the face of the wall.

adjective

1. spread out; wide and flat; turned outward.

2. clumsy or awkward.

3. oblique or awry.

splay British  

/ spleɪ /

adjective

1. spread out; broad and flat

2. turned outwards in an awkward manner

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verb

1. to spread out; turn out or expand

2. (tr) vet science to dislocate (a joint)

noun

1. a surface of a wall that forms an oblique angle to the main flat surfaces, esp at a doorway or window opening

2. enlargement

Other Word Forms

• unsplayed adjective

Etymology

Origin of splay

1300–50; Middle English; aphetic form of display

Explanation

To splay is to spread out or widen. Peacocks splay their feathers when they want to show off. Basketball players splay their fingers around a basketball to get a better grip. The word splay is often seen as splayed. If you collapse on your bed with your arms and legs stretched out, you are splayed out on the bed. Fingers, toes, arms, and legs can all splay. Something that has a splayed shape is called a splay, like an architectural detail around a window or door. Splay comes from the verb display, originally "unfurl, unfold, or spread out."

Example Sentences

Her legs splay, tilt and leap readily into pratfall action.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2024

Such a shift of the splay fault underwater can create a tsunami that could reach the nearest shores in 30 minutes or less, DePaolis said.

From Science Daily • May 20, 2024

Too many such cells caused the sepals to splay and expose the petals prematurely.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 23, 2023

Branches splay out widely and become roosting places for choirs of myna birds.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 10, 2023

His hounds splay on the rug before the fire.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Related Words

• ample
• broad
• deep
• expanded
• extensive
• far-reaching
• full
• immense
• large
• loose
• spacious
• vast