n. 25B6; verb
he spread the map out : LAY OUT, open out, unfurl, unroll, roll out; straighten out, fan out; stretch out, extend; poetic/literary outspread.
the landscape spread out below : EXTEND, stretch, open out, be displayed, be exhibited, be on show; sprawl.
papers were spread all over his desk : SCATTER, strew, disperse, distribute.
he's been spreading rumours : DISSEMINATE, circulate, pass on, put about, communicate, diffuse, make public, make known, purvey, broadcast, publicize, propagate, promulgate; repeat; poetic/literary bruit about/abroad.
she spread cold cream on her face : SMEAR, daub, plaster, slather, lather, apply, put; smooth, rub.
he spread the toast with butter : COVER, coat, layer, daub, smother; butter.
fold up, suppress.
25B6; noun
the spread of learning : EXPANSION, proliferation, extension, growth; dissemination, diffusion, transmission, propagation.
a spread of six feet : SPAN, width, extent, stretch, reach.
the immense spread of the heavens : EXPANSE, area, sweep, stretch.
a wide spread of subjects : RANGE, span, spectrum, sweep; variety.
(informal) his mother laid on a huge spread : LARGE/ELABORATE MEAL, feast, banquet; informal blowout, nosh; Brit. informal nosh-up, slap-up meal.