spread

[ spred ]

/ sprɛd /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR spread ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), spread, spread·ing.

to draw, stretch, or open out, especially over a flat surface, as something rolled or folded (often followed by out).

to stretch out or unfurl in the air, as folded wings, a flag, etc. (often followed by out).

to distribute over a greater or a relatively great area of space or time (often followed by out): to spread out the papers on the table.

to display or exhibit the full extent of; set out in full: He spread the pots on the ground and started hawking his wares.

to dispose or distribute in a sheet or layer: to spread hay to dry.

to apply in a thin layer or coating: to spread butter on a slice of bread.

to overlay or cover with something: She spread the blanket over her knees.

to set or prepare (a table), as for a meal.

to extend or distribute over a region, place, period of time, among a group, etc.

to send out, scatter, or shed in various directions, as sound, light, etc.

to scatter abroad; diffuse or disseminate, as knowledge, news, disease, etc.: to spread the word of the gospel.

to move or force apart: He spread his arms over his head in surrender.

to flatten out: to spread the end of a rivet by hammering.

Phonetics.

to extend the aperture between (the lips) laterally, so as to reduce it vertically, during an utterance.
to delabialize.Compare round¹ (def. 55c), unround.

verb (used without object), spread, spread·ing.

to become stretched out or extended, as a flag in the wind; expand, as in growth.

to extend over a greater or a considerable area or period: The factory spread along the river front.

to be or lie outspread or fully extended or displayed, as a landscape or scene.

to admit of being spread or applied in a thin layer, as a soft substance: Margarine spreads easily.

to become extended or distributed over a region, as population, animals, plants, etc.

to become shed abroad, diffused, or disseminated, as light, influences, rumors, ideas, infection, etc.

to be forced apart, as the rails of a railroad track; separate.

noun

an act or instance of spreading: With a spread of her arms the actress acknowledged the applause.

expansion, extension, or diffusion: the spread of consumerism.

the extent of spreading: to measure the spread of branches.

Finance.

the difference between the prices bid and asked of stock or a commodity for a given time.
a type of straddle in which the call price is placed above and the put price is placed below the current market quotation.
the difference between any two prices or rates for related costs: the widening spread between lending and borrowing costs.
Stock Exchange. a broker's profit or the difference between his or her buying and selling price.
any difference between return on assets and costs of liabilities.

capacity for spreading: the spread of an elastic material.

a distance or range, as between two points or dates: The long-distance movers planned a five-day spread between pickup and delivery.

a stretch, expanse, or extent of something: a spread of timber.

a cloth covering for a bed, table, or the like, especially a bedspread.

Informal. an abundance of food set out on a table; feast.

any food preparation for spreading on bread, crackers, etc., as jam or peanut butter.

Aeronautics. wingspan.

Also called layout. Journalism. (in newspapers and magazines) an extensive, varied treatment of a subject, consisting primarily either of a number of cuts (picture spread, or picture layout ) or of a major story and several supplementary stories, usually extending across three or more columns.Compare double truck.

an advertisement, photograph, article, or the like, covering several columns, a full page, or two facing pages of a newspaper, magazine, book, etc.: a full-page spread; a two-page spread.

two facing pages, as of a newspaper, magazine, or book.

landed property, as a farm or ranch.

lay¹ (def. 40).

point spread.

adjective

Jewelry. (of a gem) cut with the table too large and the crown too shallow for maximum brilliance; swindled.

Phonetics. (of the opening between the lips) extended laterally.Compare rounded (def. 2), unrounded.

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Idioms for spread

spread oneself thin, to carry on so many projects simultaneously that none is done adequately, or that one's health suffers: Many college students spread themselves thin by taking on too many activities during the semester.

Origin of spread

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English spreden (verb), Old English sprǣdan; cognate with Middle Dutch spreden, German spreiten

SYNONYMS FOR spread

1 unfold, unroll, expand.

10 emit, diffuse, radiate.

11 disperse, scatter, publish, circulate, promulgate, propagate.

15 stretch, dilate.

24 reach, compass.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR spread ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM spread

an·ti·spread·ing, adjectivepre·spread, verb (used with object), pre·spread, pre·spread·ing.re·spread, verb, re·spread, re·spread·ing.un·der·spread, verb (used with object), un·der·spread, un·der·spread·ing.

un·spread, adjectiveun·spread·ing, adjective

Words nearby spread

spray gun, spray millet, spray paint, spray skirt, spray tank, spread, spreadable, spread betting, spread eagle, spread-eagleism, spreader

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for spread

Before anti-vaxxers, there were anti-fluoriders: a group who spread fear about the anti-tooth decay agent added to drinking water.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
Their immediate response tells an important truth about a police slowdown that has spread throughout New York City in recent days.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But news of the classes is spread mainly by word of mouth, and participants bring along their friends and families.
Iran’s Becoming a Footloose Nation as Dance Lessons Spread|IranWire|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The reality TV mogul bared her butt—and everything else, too—for Paper Magazine in a spread that sent Twitter into a tizzy.
Kim Kardashian Cheekily Breaks the Internet|Kevin O’Keeffe|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Before it was split between Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, Baluchistan spread over an area slightly larger than California.
The Dangerous Drug-Funded Secret War Between Iran and Pakistan|Umar Farooq|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Longstreth spread wide his hands as if it was useless to try to convince this man.
The Lone Star Ranger|Zane Grey
The dimness of Councillor Mikulin's eyes seemed to spread all over his face and made it indistinct to Razumov's sight.
Under Western Eyes|Joseph Conrad
Just now the idea is horrible to ignorant people, but the faith will spread.
The Penalty|Gouverneur Morris
The valley of the great southern branch of the Columbia, was spread out before us.
Early Western Travels 1748-1846, Volume 28|Various
When the points of the toes are spread apart, this skin is shown in front, covered with short, soft hair.
Sheep, Swine, and Poultry|Robert Jennings

British Dictionary definitions for spread

spread

/ (sprɛd) /

verb spreads, spreading or spread

to extend or unfold or be extended or unfolded to the fullest widthshe spread the map on the table

to extend or cause to extend over a larger expanse of space or timethe milk spread all over the floor; the political unrest spread over several years

to apply or be applied in a coatingbutter does not spread very well when cold

to distribute or be distributed over an area or region

to display or be displayed in its fullest extentthe landscape spread before us

(tr) to prepare (a table) for a meal

(tr) to lay out (a meal) on a table

to send or be sent out in all directions; disseminate or be disseminatedsomeone has been spreading rumours; the disease spread quickly

(of rails, wires, etc) to force or be forced apart

to increase the breadth of (a part), esp to flatten the head of a rivet by pressing, hammering, or forging

(tr) agriculture

to lay out (hay) in a relatively thin layer to dry
to scatter (seed, manure, etc) over a relatively wide area

(tr often foll by around) informal to make (oneself) agreeable to a large number of people, often of the opposite sex

phonetics to narrow and lengthen the aperture of (the lips) as for the articulation of a front vowel, such as (iː) in English see (siː)

noun

the act or process of spreading; diffusion, dispersal, expansion, etcthe spread of the Christian religion

informal the wingspan of an aircraft

an extent of space or time; stretcha spread of 50 years

informal, mainly US and Canadian a ranch or relatively large tract of land

the limit of something fully extendedthe spread of a bird's wings

a covering for a table or bed

informal a large meal or feast, esp when it is laid out on a table

a food which can be spread on bread, etcsalmon spread

two facing pages in a book or other publication

a widening of the hips and waistmiddle-age spread

stock exchange

the difference between the bid and offer prices quoted by a market maker
the excess of the price at which stock is offered for public sale over the price paid for the same stock by an underwriter
mainly US a double optionCompare straddle (def. 9)

jewellery the apparent size of a gemstone when viewed from above expressed in caratsa diamond with a spread of four carats