sprawl
[ sprawl ]
/ sprɔl /
verb (used without object)
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.
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Origin of sprawl
before 1000; Middle English spraulen to move awkwardly, Old English spreawlian; cognate with Frisian (N dial.) spraweli
OTHER WORDS FROM sprawl
sprawler, nounsprawl·ing·ly, adverbWords nearby sprawl
spraint, sprang, sprat, Spratly Islands, sprattle, sprawl, sprawly, spray, spray can, spray gun, spray millet
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for sprawl
British Dictionary definitions for sprawl
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 fashionhis 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 countrysidethe urban sprawl
- the process by which this has happened
Derived forms of sprawl
sprawler, nounsprawly, adjectiveWord Origin for sprawl
Old English spreawlian; related to Old English spryttan to sprout, spurt, Greek speirein to scatter
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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