spreader

American  

[spred-er] / ˈsprɛd ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that spreads.

2. a small, dull knife or spatula used for spreading butter, jelly, etc., on bread.

3. a machine for dispersing bulk material.

   manure spreader.

4. a device for spacing or keeping apart two objects, as electric wires.

5. Nautical. a strut for spreading shrouds on a mast.

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spreader British  

/ ˈsprɛdə /

noun

1. a machine or device used for scattering bulk materials, esp manure or fertilizer, over a relatively wide area

2. a device for keeping apart or spacing parallel objects, such as electric wires

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antispreader
  noun

Etymology

Origin of spreader

First recorded in 1475–85; spread + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Chief executive Susan Hopkins previously said it looked as though there had been a super spreader event, with the outbreak ongoing within university halls of residences, where there would have been parties and social mixing.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

I get to get on stage and make people laugh, be this joy spreader, and then I’m dealing with all these other things that have nothing to do with what I’m here to do.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 10, 2025

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is a prolific spreader and amplifier of misinformation on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, a new report alleges.

From Salon • Sep. 27, 2024

The game has been created for research and teaching, and the participants assume the role of spreader of misleading news.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2024

He could, of course; the spreader was simple to operate.

From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien