/ spred; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
( spread , spread )
OPEN / ARRANGE
1.
[ vn ] spread sth (out) (on / over sth) to open sth that has been folded so that it covers a larger area than before :
to spread a cloth on a table
Sue spread the map out on the floor.
The bird spread its wings.
2.
[ vn ] spread sth (out) (on / over sth) to arrange objects so that they cover a large area and can be seen easily :
Papers had been spread out on the desk.
ARMS / LEGS
3.
[ vn ] spread sth (out) to move your arms, legs, fingers, etc. far apart from each other :
She spread her arms and the child ran towards her.
AMONG PEOPLE
4.
to affect or make sth affect, be known by, or used by more and more people :
[ v , usually + adv. / prep. ]
The disease spreads easily.
Within weeks, his confidence had spread throughout the team.
Use of computers spread rapidly during that period.
[ vn ]
to spread rumours / lies about sb
The disease is spread by mosquitoes.
COVER LARGE AREA
5.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to cover, or to make sth cover, a larger and larger area :
[ v ]
The fire rapidly spread to adjoining buildings.
Water began to spread across the floor.
A smile spread slowly across her face.
[ vn ]
Using too much water could spread the stain.
6.
[ vn ] to cause sb/sth to be in a number of different places :
Seeds and pollen are spread by the wind.
We have 10 000 members spread all over the country.
7.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] spread (out) to cover a large area :
The valley spread out beneath us.
SOFT LAYER
8.
spread (A on / over B) | spread (B with A) to put a layer of a substance onto the surface of sth; to be able to be put onto a surface :
[ vn ]
to spread butter on pieces of toast
pieces of toast spread with butter
[ v ]
If the paint is too thick, it will not spread evenly.
DIVIDE / SHARE
9.
[ vn ] spread sth (out) (over sth) to separate sth into parts and divide them between different times or different people :
A series of five interviews will be spread over two days.
Why not pay monthly and spread the cost of your car insurance?
We attempted to spread the workload between the departments.
•
IDIOMS
- spread like wildfire
- spread your net
- spread your wings
- spread the word
- spread yourself too thin
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- spread out | spread yourself out
■ noun
INCREASE
1.
[ U ] an increase in the amount or number of sth that there is, or in the area that is affected by sth :
to prevent the spread of disease
to encourage the spread of information
the spread of a city into the surrounding areas
—see also middle-age spread
RANGE / VARIETY
2.
[ C , usually sing. ] a range or variety of people or things :
a broad spread of opinions
ON BREAD
3.
[ C , U ] a soft food that you put on bread :
Use a low-fat spread instead of butter.
cheese spread
AREA COVERED
4.
[ C , usually sing. ] spread (of sth) the area that sth exists in or happens in :
The company has a good geographical spread of hotels in this country.
5.
[ C , usually sing. ] spread (of sth) how wide sth is or the area that sth covers :
The bird's wings have a spread of nearly a metre.
IN NEWSPAPER / MAGAZINE
6.
[ C ] an article or advertisement in a newspaper or magazine, especially one that covers two opposite pages :
The story continued with a double-page spread on the inside pages.
—see also centre spread
MEAL
7.
[ C ] ( informal ) a large meal, especially one that is prepared for a special occasion :
They had laid on a huge spread for the party.
OF LAND / WATER
8.
[ C , usually sing. ] spread (of sth) ( NAmE ) an area of land or water :
a vast spread of water
They have a huge spread in California (= a large farm or ranch ) .
FINANCE
9.
[ U ] the difference between two rates or prices
ON BED
10.
[ C ] ( NAmE ) = bedspread
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English -sprǣdan (used in combinations), of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch spreiden and German spreiten .