I. sprawl 1 /sprɔːl $ sprɒːl/ BrE AmE ( also sprawl out ) verb [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: spreawlian ]
1 . to lie or sit with your arms or legs stretched out in a lazy or careless way:
He sprawled out on the sofa.
I tripped on a stone and went sprawling on the pavement.
a blow which sent him sprawling
2 . if buildings sprawl, they spread out over a wide area in an untidy and unattractive way:
The town seemed to sprawl for miles.
II. sprawl 2 BrE AmE noun [singular, uncountable]
a large area of buildings that are spread out in an untidy and unattractive way:
We drove through miles of urban sprawl before we finally got out into the countryside.