/spred"euhr/ , n.
1. a person or thing that spreads.
2. a small, dull knife or spatula used for spreading butter, jelly, etc., on bread.
3. a machine for dispersing bulk material: manure spreader.
4. a device for spacing or keeping apart two objects, as electric wires.
5. Naut. a strut for spreading shrouds on a mast.
[ 1475-85; SPREAD + -ER 1 ]