/ English Dictionary

SPREAD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Act of extending over a wider scope or expanse of space or time

Synonyms:

spread; spreading

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("spread" is a kind of...):

extension (act of expanding in scope; making more widely available)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spread"):

circulation (the spread or transmission of something (as news or money) to a wider group or area)

diffusion; dispersal; dispersion; dissemination (the act of dispersing or diffusing something)

scatter; scattering; strewing (the act of scattering)

decentralisation; decentralization (the spread of power away from the center to local branches or governments)

Derivation:

spread (cause to become widely known)

spread (distribute or disperse widely)

spread (become distributed or widespread)

spread (move outward)

spread (strew or distribute over an area)

spread (spread across or over)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Decorative cover for a bed

Synonyms:

bed cover; bed covering; bedcover; bedspread; counterpane; spread

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("spread" is a kind of...):

bed clothing; bedclothes; bedding (coverings that are used on a bed)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spread"):

coverlet (a decorative bedspread (usually quilted))

quilted bedspread (a bedspread constructed like a thin quilt)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)

Synonyms:

cattle farm; cattle ranch; ranch; spread

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("spread" is a kind of...):

farm (workplace consisting of farm buildings and cultivated land as a unit)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures

Example:

the spread between lending and borrowing costs

Synonyms:

gap; spread

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("spread" is a kind of...):

disparity (inequality or difference in some respect)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A haphazard distribution in all directions

Synonyms:

scatter; spread

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("spread" is a kind of...):

dispersion; distribution (the spatial or geographic property of being scattered about over a range, area, or volume)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spread"):

diffuseness (the spatial property of being spread out over a wide area or through a large volume)

Derivation:

spread (cause to become widely known)

spread (become widely known and passed on)

spread (distribute or disperse widely)

spread (become distributed or widespread)

spread (move outward)

spread (strew or distribute over an area)

spread (spread across or over)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The expansion of a person's girth (especially at middle age)

Example:

she exercised to avoid that middle-aged spread

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("spread" is a kind of...):

girth (the distance around a person's body)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Two facing pages of a book or other publication

Synonyms:

facing pages; spread; spread head; spreadhead

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("spread" is a kind of...):

page (one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spread"):

center spread; centre spread (the spread at the center of a magazine)

centerfold; centrefold (a magazine center spread; especially a foldout of a large photograph or map or other feature)

Holonyms ("spread" is a part of...):

publication (a copy of a printed work offered for distribution)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space

Synonyms:

spread; spreading

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("spread" is a kind of...):

change of location; travel (a movement through space that changes the location of something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spread"):

radiation (the spread of a group of organisms into new habitats)

irradiation ((physiology) the spread of sensory neural impulses in the cortex)

invasion ((pathology) the spread of pathogenic microorganisms or malignant cells to new sites in the body)

dispersion; scattering (spreading widely or driving off)

diffusion (the spread of social institutions (and myths and skills) from one society to another)

Derivation:

spread (spread across or over)

spread (strew or distribute over an area)

spread (move outward)

spread (become distributed or widespread)

spread (distribute or disperse widely)

spread (become widely known and passed on)

spread (cause to become widely known)

Sense 9

Meaning:

A meal that is well prepared and greatly enjoyed

Example:

they put out quite a spread

Synonyms:

banquet; feast; spread

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("spread" is a kind of...):

meal; repast (the food served and eaten at one time)

Sense 10

Meaning:

A tasty mixture to be spread on bread or crackers or used in preparing other dishes

Synonyms:

paste; spread

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("spread" is a kind of...):

condiment (a preparation (a sauce or relish or spice) to enhance flavor or enjoyment)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spread"):

tahini (a thick Middle Eastern paste made from ground sesame seeds)

tapenade (a spread consisting of capers and black olives and anchovies made into a puree with olive oil)

pate (liver or meat or fowl finely minced or ground and variously seasoned)

hommos; hoummos; hummus; humous; humus (a thick spread made from mashed chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice and garlic; used especially as a dip for pita; originated in the Middle East)

miso (a thick paste made from fermented soybeans and barley or rice malt; used in Japanese cooking to make soups or sauces)

garlic butter (butter seasoned with mashed garlic)

fishpaste (a paste of fish or shellfish)

anchovy butter (butter blended with mashed anchovies)

cheese spread (spread made of cheese mixed with butter or cream or cream cheese and seasonings)

lobster butter (butter blended with chopped lobster or seasoned with essence from lobster shells)

shrimp butter (butter blended with chopped shrimp or seasoned with essence from shrimp shells)

pimento butter (butter blended with mashed pimento)

onion butter (butter blended with minced onion)

marshmallow fluff (a very sweet white spread resembling marshmallow candy)

peanut butter (a spread made from ground peanuts)

nut butter (ground nuts blended with a little butter)

margarin; margarine; marge; oleo; oleomargarine (a spread made chiefly from vegetable oils and used as a substitute for butter)

Derivation:

spread (distribute over a surface in a layer)

spread (cover by spreading something over)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Distributed or spread over a considerable extent

Example:

eleven million Jews are spread throughout Europe

Synonyms:

dispersed; spread

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

distributed (spread out or scattered about or divided up)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Fully extended in width

Example:

with arms spread wide

Synonyms:

outspread; spread

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

extended (fully extended or stretched forth)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Prepared or arranged for a meal; especially having food set out

Example:

a table spread with food

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

prepared (made ready or fit or suitable beforehand)

 III. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to become widely known

Example:

broadcast the news

Synonyms:

broadcast; circularise; circularize; circulate; diffuse; disperse; disseminate; distribute; pass around; propagate; spread

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "spread" is one way to...):

air; bare; publicise; publicize (make public)

Cause:

circulate; go around; spread (become widely known and passed on)

Verb group:

circulate; go around; spread (become widely known and passed on)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spread"):

carry; run (include as the content; broadcast or publicize)

generalise; generalize; popularise; popularize; vulgarise; vulgarize (cater to popular taste to make popular and present to the general public; bring into general or common use)

sow (introduce into an environment)

podcast (distribute (multimedia files) over the internet for playback on a mobile device or a personal computer)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

spread (act of extending over a wider scope or expanse of space or time)

spread (a haphazard distribution in all directions)

spread (process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space)

spreading (the opening of a subject to widespread discussion and debate)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become widely known and passed on

Example:

the story went around in the office

Synonyms:

circulate; go around; spread

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "spread" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Verb group:

broadcast; circularise; circularize; circulate; diffuse; disperse; disseminate; distribute; pass around; propagate; spread (cause to become widely known)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

spread (a haphazard distribution in all directions)

spread (process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Distribute or disperse widely

Example:

The invaders spread their language all over the country

Synonyms:

distribute; spread

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spread"):

diffuse; fan out; spread; spread out (move outward)

sprawl; straggle (go, come, or spread in a rambling or irregular way)

redistribute (distribute anew)

deploy (to distribute systematically or strategically)

propagate (transmit or cause to broaden or spread)

export (cause to spread in another part of the world)

straw; strew (spread by scattering ()

discharge (pour forth or release)

metastasise; metastasize (spread throughout the body)

generalise; generalize (become systemic and spread throughout the body)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Antonym:

gather (assemble or get together)

Also:

spread out (set out or stretch in a line, succession, or series)

spread out (move away from each other)

spread out (move outward)

spread out (extend in one or more directions)

Derivation:

spread (act of extending over a wider scope or expanse of space or time)

spread (a haphazard distribution in all directions)

spread (process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space)

spreader (a hand tool for spreading something)

spreading (act of extending over a wider scope or expanse of space or time)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Become distributed or widespread

Example:

Optimism spread among the population

Synonyms:

propagate; spread

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "spread" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spread"):

catch (spread or be communicated)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

spread (act of extending over a wider scope or expanse of space or time)

spread (a haphazard distribution in all directions)

spread (process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Spread out or open from a closed or folded state

Example:

spread your arms

Synonyms:

open; spread; spread out; unfold

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "spread" is one way to...):

undo (cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spread"):

splay (spread open or apart)

uncross (change from a crossed to an uncrossed position)

butterfly (cut and spread open, as in preparation for cooking)

grass (spread out clothes on the grass to let it dry and bleach)

exfoliate (spread by opening the leaves of)

divaricate (spread apart)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 6

Meaning:

Distribute over a surface in a layer

Example:

spread cheese on a piece of bread

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

spreader (a hand tool for spreading something)

spread (a tasty mixture to be spread on bread or crackers or used in preparing other dishes)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Cover by spreading something over

Example:

spread the bread with cheese

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "spread" is one way to...):

cover (provide with a covering or cause to be covered)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spread"):

slather (spread thickly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Sentence example:

They spread the bread with melted butter

Derivation:

spread (a tasty mixture to be spread on bread or crackers or used in preparing other dishes)

spreader (a hand tool for spreading something)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Move outward

Example:

The soldiers fanned out

Synonyms:

diffuse; fan out; spread; spread out

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "spread" is one way to...):

distribute; spread (distribute or disperse widely)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spread"):

percolate (spread gradually)

creep (grow or spread, often in such a way as to cover (a surface))

bleed; run (be diffused)

mantle (spread over a surface, like a mantle)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

spread (act of extending over a wider scope or expanse of space or time)

spread (a haphazard distribution in all directions)

spread (process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Strew or distribute over an area

Example:

scatter cards across the table

Synonyms:

scatter; spread; spread out

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "spread" is one way to...):

circulate; distribute; pass around; pass on (cause to be distributed)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spread"):

manure; muck (spread manure, as for fertilization)

birdlime; lime (spread birdlime on branches to catch birds)

circumfuse (spread something around something)

distribute (spread throughout a given area)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

spread (act of extending over a wider scope or expanse of space or time)

spread (a haphazard distribution in all directions)

spread (process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space)

spreader (a mechanical device for scattering something (seed or fertilizer or sand etc.) in all directions)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Spread across or over

Example:

A big oil spot spread across the water

Synonyms:

overspread; spread

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "spread" is one way to...):

continue; cover; extend (span an interval of distance, space or time)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spread"):

transgress (spread over land, especially along a subsiding shoreline)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

spread (act of extending over a wider scope or expanse of space or time)

spread (a haphazard distribution in all directions)

spread; spreading (process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Now, I pray you, Alleyne, if a man were to take a ship and spread sail across yonder waters, where might he hope to arrive?

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He was in a panic of superstitious fear, and I am afraid the panic may spread.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

And with another bow, the Monkey King spread his wings and flew away through the window, followed by all his band.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Joe was underneath, with arms spread out and held and with Martin's knee on his chest.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

A cancer gene that plays a role in the suppression of metastasis, a process whereby cancer spreads from one part of the body to another.

(Metastasis Suppressor Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

Jupiter, the planet of good fortune, is now settled into your tenth house of honors, awards, and achievement, spreading his sunshine.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

To spread from one part of the body to another.

(Metastasize, NCI Dictionary)

The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another.

(Metastasis, NCI Dictionary)

Since the infection spreads from person to person, family members may also need to be treated.

(Meningococcal Infections, NIH)

I had folded up the blankets, but she now proceeded to spread them out on the bottom.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

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