I. ˈsprȯl verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English sprewlen, sprawlen, from Old English sprēawlian; probably akin to Old English sprūtan to sprout — more at sprout
intransitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to lie (as on the ground) thrashing or tossing about : struggle convulsively
b. : to creep or clamber with awkward movements of the arms and legs : scramble
the car slowly fell on its side and two figures sprawled out — Irwin Shaw
2. : to lie or sit with arms and legs stretched out carelessly or awkwardly : spread out
could sprawl on her back in the little patch of grass — Elizabeth Janeway
a child … sprawls across her knees — Laurence Binyon
the headmaster … was sprawled out in an easy chair — Grace Metalious
3. : to spread or develop irregularly or ungracefully : straggle
bushes are … allowed to sprawl as they will — Fletcher Steele
the city sprawls without apparent logic or plan to the west, north, and south — American Guide Series: Rhode Island
this novel undeniably sprawls — Sean O'Faolain
transitive verb
1. : to stretch out (the arms or legs) carelessly or awkwardly
took a chair, sprawled out his legs — Erle Stanley Gardner
2. : to cause to spread or develop irregularly or stragglingly : cause to move erratically : scrawl
sprawls its … winding river across the state line — American Guide Series: Texas
languidly sprawled his signature over the document at her urging
II. noun
( -s )
1. : the act, posture, or condition of sprawling
sent him down in a long sprawl — Vincent McHugh
toppled backward to a sprawl on the pavement — Scott Fitzgerald
2. : an irregularly spread or scattered group or mass : a straggling array
a bare and shadeless sprawl of adobe barracks — Harvey Fergusson
the increasing sprawl of the curriculum — E.L.Vance
the rich sprawl of her hair — William Faulkner
3. dialect : resolute spirit : spunk , gumption
chaps as hadn't the sprawl to go a-soldiering — Flora Thompson