n.
Pronunciation: ' spred
Function: verb
Inflected Form: spread ; spread · ing
Etymology: Middle English spreden, from Old English -spr ǣ dan; akin to Old High German spreiten to spread
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1 a : to open or expand over a larger area < spread out the map> b : to stretch out : EXTEND < spread its wings for flight>
2 a : to distribute over an area < spread fertilizer> b : to distribute over a period or among a group < spread the work over a few weeks> c : to apply on a surface < spread butter on bread> d (1) : to cover or overlay something with < spread the cloth on the table> (2) archaic : to cover completely e (1) : to prepare or furnish for dining : SET < spread the table> (2) : SERVE < spread the afternoon tea>
3 a : to make widely known < spread the news> b : to extend the range or incidence of < spread a disease> c : DIFFUSE , EMIT <flowers spread ing their fragrance>
4 : to push apart by weight or force
intransitive verb
1 a : to become dispersed, distributed, or scattered b : to become known or disseminated <panic spread rapidly>
2 : to grow in length or breadth : EXPAND
3 : to move apart (as from pressure or weight) : SEPARATE
– spread · abil · i · ty \ ˌ spre-d ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē \ noun
– spread · able \ ' spre-d ə -b ə l \ adjective