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to spread

to spread

768 1.6
To put a thin layer over a surface
  • verb
  • /sprɛd/
: extender
  • Hank has opened a large suitcase and spread it across the coffee table.
  • spread far
  • cancer has spread
  • spread over 90 meters

So what I do is I kind of spread it here like that.

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Examples

  • Rachel sat hunched in her down jacket, hands spread in front of her to catch the heat.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • You wanna make sure it's all spread out evenly.

  • So we just want to spread a bunch in each cell.

  • So what I do is I kind of spread it here like that.

  • We're gonna spread it across three or four players.

  • Now what we're going to do is just spread this shadow out.

  • I put some glue on and spread it in a very thin layer.

  • Offering lower prices at non-peak periods may help to spread out customers over the year.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Perhaps the old medicine people did come out west first to spread medicinal herbs into the landscape.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Before baking, spread the frosting evenly over the cake's surface.

Synonyms

to expand
vsto spread
917 2.5

To grow larger in size, amount, or importance

centers more on covering and distributing across surfaces rather than general growth
to stretch
vsto spread
267 1.0

Make something longer or wider by pulling it

also covers distributing and opening across a surface not only physical stretching
to cover
vsto spread
222 3.3

To go across an area or distance

also refers to arranging or distributing physically across a surface or space
to extend
vsto spread
145 2.7

To reach out with your body or make something longer

has broader action of covering, distributing, or opening across areas not only reaching
to widen
vsto spread
141 2.5

To make something have more space from one side to the other so it fits or moves more easily

is about covering and extending across surfaces rather than only increasing width
to distribute
vsto spread
140 2.0

Give things to several people or places

focuses more on covering and opening surfaces than only giving things out
to reach out
vsto spread
131 2.7

To stretch a hand toward something to touch it

includes covering and distributing across areas as well, not only reaching outward
to extend to
vsto spread
123 3.4

Reach up to a certain point or limit

is more about covering and opening across an area rather than reaching a limit
to span
vsto spread
  • Specialized
99 3.4

To stretch across an area or period of time

is mainly about covering, arranging, and opening rather than just bridging
to broaden
vsto spread
90 3.9

To make or become wider and include more things

focuses on covering or distributing across areas instead of only widening scope
to scatter
vsto spread
86 2.8

To spread small things like leaves or seeds over an area without order

covers deliberate arranging or opening across surfaces rather than mainly random scattering
to spread out
vsto spread
84 3.1

To arrange or unfold things so they cover a larger area

has the same meaning but is the phrasal expression used in everyday speech
to disperse
vsto spread
81 4.4

To cause people and things, like a crowd or fog, to spread over a wide area

often implies breaking up, while the basic sense focuses on continuous covering
to sweep
vsto spread
70 2.3

To extend across a large area or long distance

is used for physical covering, opening, or distributing rather than mostly duration
to spread over
vsto spread
69 3.6

Form a layer across a surface, like fog or icing

focuses on covering, extending, or opening generally rather than only layering
to fan out
vsto spread
36 3.7

To spread out from one point in different directions

is used more broadly for covering or extending in many patterns not only radiating
to unfold
vsto spread
33 1.3

Open something that is folded so it becomes flat

applies also to distributing or arranging across surfaces, not only unfolding objects
to diffuse
vsto spread
32 5.5

To spread out and reach many people or places

focuses on reaching many people or areas rather than physical unfolding
to unfurl
vsto spread
23 4.5

To open something rolled or folded so it lies flat

is used more generally for covering, arranging, or extending beyond unrolling
to unroll
vsto spread
13 2.0

To spread out something like a carpet or map that was wrapped up

is mainly a physical unrolling action, while the basic sense covers many ways of expanding
to sprawl
vsto spread
11 4.6

To spread out over a large area in an untidy way

can be used in orderly or planned contexts rather than only untidy expansion
to splay
vsto spread
10 6.7

To turn something outward, especially fingers or toes

is more general, covering and extending across areas not limited to outward turning
to stretch along
vsto spread
4 4.2

To continue for a long distance along a narrow area

is used for any shape or direction of extension not only long narrow forms
to stretch forth
vsto spread
2 6.1

To reach out a hand or arm toward something to offer help

applies more widely to covering, opening, or distributing beyond thrusting actions
to overspread
vsto spread
1 7.1

Move across a surface and cover it, like mist or color

is broader, including opening and stretching not limited to covering surfaces
to bestrew
vsto spread
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To cover a surface by scattering things like papers or flowers

is broader and more neutral, including deliberate distribution not only decorative scattering
to spread-eagle
vsto spread
1 7.6

To stretch across a large area

is the general, neutral term for covering, opening, and extending actions
to dispread
vsto spread
  • Archaic
9.9

To move outward in many directions to cover a wide area

covers or arranges across a surface rather than focusing only on radial motion

Antonyms

43 3.7

To press something so it takes less space

Idioms

10 3.0

To become known by many people very quickly

6 4.2

To start living on your own and try new things

To spread bad news or rumors very quickly and be hard to stop

Phrasal Verbs

84 3.1

To arrange or unfold things so they cover a larger area

81 2.8

To move apart and cover a wider area

Tell many people about something so they know

Form a layer across a surface, like fog or icing

To turn a body part outward from the middle

To place your arms and legs wide apart when standing or lying

to spread-eagle
  • Specialized
1 8.2

To glide on ice with legs turned out and arms wide

to spread-eagle
  • Informal
1 8.3

To beat an opponent by a very large amount

To stretch across a large area

7.0

To try to do too many things at the same time so you cannot do any well

Compounds

spread eagle
  • Jargon
5 8.3

A figure skating move with skates heel to heel and legs turned outward

3 7.2

With arms and legs stretched wide apart when lying down or in the air

2 3.5

Arranged so they cover a wide area like papers fanned on a table

2 3.7

A fast increase that affects many people or places

A soft food made from cheese mixed with butter, cream, or spices to spread on bread

center spread
  • Jargon
1 3.9

Two pages in the middle of a magazine or newspaper showing a large photo

A gain of fat around the waist that happens in middle age

1 7.5

An image of an eagle with wings and legs spread used on the United States seal

A selection of food like sandwiches and fruit laid out to eat outdoors

spread-eagle jump
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A jump with arms and legs stretched out to the sides like an eagle

spread head
  • Jargon
9.5

A heading that goes across two facing pages in a book or magazine

How Much

to saturate
8 5.2
to spread
768 1.6
to coat
63 2.8
to cover
∞ 1.0
to scatter
86 2.8

Surface Forms

spread infinitive
spreading present participle
spreads third person singular
spread past
spread past participle

Etymology

Spread comes from an old word meaning 'stretch', giving the image of something being opened or pushed out. So to spread paint or butter is to stretch it across a surface.