Yahoo Canada Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   spread

   /sprɛd/

   verb

   • 1. open out (something) so as to extend its surface area, width, or length: "I spread a towel on the sand and sat down" Similar lay outopen outunfurlunrollroll outshake outstraighten outfan outstretch outextendliterary:outspreadOpposite fold up
   • ▪ stretch out (arms, legs, hands, fingers, or wings) so that they are far apart: "Bobby spread his arms wide"
   • 2. extend over a large or increasing area: "rain over north-west Scotland will spread south-east during the day" Similar growincreaseescalateadvancedevelopbroadenexpandwidenproliferatemushroommetastasize
   • ▪ (of a group of people) move apart so as to cover a wider area: "the Marines spread out across the docks"
   • ▪ distribute or disperse (something) over an area: "volcanic eruptions spread dust high into the stratosphere" Similar scatterstrewdisperseliterary:bestrew
   • ▪ gradually reach or cause to reach a wider area or more people: "the violence spread from the city centre to the suburbs" Similar disseminatecirculatepass onput aboutcommunicatediffusemake publicmake knownpurveybroadcastpublicizepropagatepromulgaterepeatliterary:bruit about/abroadOpposite suppress
   • ▪ (of people, animals, or plants) become distributed over a large or larger area: "the owls have spread as far north as Kuala Lumpur"
   • ▪ distribute in a specified way: "you can spread the payments over as long a period as you like"
   • 3. apply (a substance) to an object or surface in an even layer: "he sighed, spreading jam on a croissant" Similar smeardaubplasterslatherlatherapplyputsmoothrub
   • ▪ cover (a surface) with a substance in an even layer: "spread each slice thinly with mayonnaise" Similar covercoatlayerdaubsmotherbutter
   • ▪ be able to be applied in an even layer: "a tub of unsalted butter that spreads so well"
   • 4. lay (a table) for a meal. archaic

   noun

   • 1. the fact or process of spreading over an area: "warmer temperatures could help reduce the spread of the disease" Similar expansionproliferationextensiongrowthmushroomingincreaseescalationbuildoutadvanceadvancementdevelopmentdisseminationdiffusiontransmissionpropagation
   • 2. the extent, width, or area covered by something: "the male's antlers can attain a spread of six feet" Similar spanwidthextentstretchreach
   • ▪ the wingspan of a bird: "the red-tailed hawk has a four-and-a-half-foot spread"
   • ▪ an expanse or amount of something: "the green spread of the park" Similar expanseareasweepstretch
   • ▪ a large farm or ranch. North American
   • 3. the range or variety of something: "a wide spread of ages" Similar rangespanspectrumsweepvariety
   • ▪ the difference between two rates or prices: "the very narrow spread between borrowing and deposit rates"
   • ▪ short for point spread
   • 4. a soft paste that can be applied in a layer to bread or other food: "low-fat spreads"
   • 5. an article or advertisement covering several columns or pages of a newspaper or magazine, especially one on two facing pages: "a double-page spread"
   • 6. a large and impressively elaborate meal: informal "his mother laid on a huge spread" Similar large/elaborate mealfeastbanquetrepastinformal:blowoutnosh
   • 7. a bedspread: North American "a patchwork spread" Similar bedspreadbedcovercovercoverletthrowafghaneiderdowncomforterdated:counterpane

   Word Origin Old English-sprǣdan (used in combinations), of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch spreiden and German spreiten.

   Derivatives

   • 1. spreadable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • S

     1

   • P

     3

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • A

     1

   • D

     2

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. People also ask

   What does spread mean?

   • Get a quick, free translation! SPREAD definition: 1. to cover or reach a wider or increasing area, or to make something do this: 2. to affect more…. Learn more.

   SPREAD | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/spread

   See all results for this question

   What does spread out mean?

   • 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 spread out the papers on the table. He spread the pots on the ground and started hawking his wares. to spread hay to dry.

   SPREAD Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com/browse/spread

   See all results for this question

   How does / / spread?

   • Raised variants of / / are apparently spreading in a linguistically ordered way, with" long" environments affected first. In adult plants the infection generally spreads slowly, but to such an extent that they can eventually die.

   SPREAD | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/spread

   See all results for this question

   What is a broad spread?

   • wide spread The survey found a wide spread of opinion over the proposed new building. broad spread Few other corporate roles require such a broad spread of knowledge and experience. spread on The magazine recently ran a spread on Oregon beaches, mountains, hotels and restaurants.

   SPREAD | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/spread

   See all results for this question

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSPREAD | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   to affect more and more places, people, or things, or to make something do this: Discontent among junior ranks was rapidly spreading. If disease is allowed to spread, it will cause widespread devastation. The virus is spread through contact with blood and other body fluids.

4. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › spreadSpread Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › spread

   • Cached

   The meaning of SPREAD is to open or expand over a larger area. How to use spread in a sentence.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › spreadSPREAD Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › spread

   • Cached

   Spread definition: to draw, stretch, or open out, especially over a flat surface, as something rolled or folded (often followed by out).. See examples of SPREAD used in a sentence.

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › english › spreadSPREAD | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › english › spread

   • Cached

   to affect more and more places, people, or things, or to make something do this: Discontent among junior ranks was rapidly spreading. If disease is allowed to spread, it will cause widespread devastation. The virus is spread through contact with blood and other body fluids.

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › spreadSpread - definition of spread by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › spread

   • Cached

   1. To open to a fuller extent or width; stretch: spread out the tablecloth; a bird spreading its wings. 2. To make wider the gap between; move farther apart: spread her fingers. 3. a. To distribute over a surface in a layer: spread varnish on the steps. b. To cover with a layer: spread a cracker with butter. 4. a.

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionspread verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

   • Cached

   [intransitive, transitive] to cover, or to make something cover, a larger and larger area. There is no evidence that the cancer has spread. + adv./prep. The fire rapidly spread to adjoining buildings. Water began to spread across the floor. A smile spread slowly across her face. Allow plenty of space for this plant as its roots spread widely.

9. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › spreadSpread - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › spread

   When something is spread, it's stretched or extended as far as it can go. It's a beautiful sight to see a bald eagle spread its wings and fly. When you spread a picnic blanket on the ground, you open it and stretch it across the grass.