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spreading

spreading

1 2.3
The movement of something over a larger area or among people
  • noun
  • /ˈsprɛdɪŋ/
translation icon : distribución
  • And we can, we can address that by spreading opportunity throughout the country.

And so there he, he's responsible for, for spreading a lot of Stoic doctrines.

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Examples

  • The podcast has been accused of spreading dangerous misinformation.

  • So I'm starting around here and spreading it out pretty wide.

  • TED is a nonprofit devoted to "Ideas Worth Spreading."

    Blog text (24)
  • You're just policing up, spreading love and joy.

  • TED, a global nonprofit devoted to "Ideas Worth Spreading," will focus its February 2013 conference on "The Young, The Wise, And The Undiscovered."

    Blog text (7)
  • So I'm using the flat part of the brush, spreading the lipstick inwards.

  • The spreading of the forest fire threatened several homes nearby.

  • Effective spreading of information can help raise awareness about important issues.

  • The artist focused on the spreading of colors across the canvas to create a vivid scene.

Synonyms

expansion
vsspreading
241 3.3

An increase in size, amount, or range

focuses on reaching more places or people rather than internal growth
spread
vsspreading
89 2.5

An increase in size or amount over an area

is the same idea but emphasizes reaching more people over time
proliferation
vsspreading
  • Specialized
78 9.5

A rapid increase in the number or amount of something

is about ongoing extension, not necessarily sudden or fast multiplication
distribution
vsspreading
60 3.2

The act of giving things out to many people or places

is about making something reach farther rather than only handing out items
extension
vsspreading
55 3.2

A course or program offered by a college for local people

is the basic act of distributing or expanding, not only making things wider
circulation
vsspreading
28 4.0

The spreading of news or money so more people get it

is about widening reach or extent, not just movement within a system
dispersal
vsspreading
17 5.2

The spreading of things over a wide area, for example seeds or people

focuses on broader extension rather than solely the act of scattering pieces
dissemination
vsspreading
16 6.6

Spreading information or ideas so many people learn them

applies to many kinds of distribution not only sending information to people
dispersion
vsspreading
5 6.5

The spreading of people or things across a wide area

is less about random scattering and more about planned extending or increasing
diffusion
vsspreading
5 5.8

Spreading ideas or customs to many places

is broader, covering all distribution types not only slow natural movement
propagation
vsspreading
4 6.5

Spreading ideas or beliefs so more people accept them

is broader, covering all kinds of distribution beyond idea adoption
broadening
vsspreading
3 3.5

A change that makes something wider or includes more things

is more general, applying to many forms of distribution and increase
widening
vsspreading
3 2.7

A change that makes something wider, like a road or gap

is about general extension and distribution rather than only increasing width
rapid spread
vsspreading
1 3.7

A fast increase that affects many people or places

is the general process of distribution without sudden speed or negative tone
scattering
vsspreading
1 4.2

Things or people suddenly moving apart and spreading over an area

is more about organized increase or extension rather than random throwing

Antonyms

43 5.5

To join several groups or parts together to make one stronger unit

42 4.0

Pressing something so it becomes smaller and denser

Compounds

Plant that lives many years, grows in clumps and sends out stems with blue or white bell-shaped flowers

A North American plant with pink flowers that comes back every year

spreading factor
  • Specialized
7.9

A substance that breaks a gel in tissue so fluid or medicine can move into the tissue

A low bushy wildflower with hairy leaves and small white, pink, or purple flowers

A North American orchid with pink funnel-shaped flowers that grows in marshes

How Widespread

pervasive
66 7.1
widespread
256 3.6
spreading
1 2.3
limited
97 1.9
localized
  • US
4.8

Surface Forms

spreading singular
spreadings plural

Morphology

spreading = spread (transparent) = spread + ing

A straightforward nominalization/gerund formed from the verb 'spread' with '-ing', so the meaning is directly derived from the base verb.

Etymology

The word spreading comes from the old verb spread, which meant 'to stretch out' or 'open up' like a cloth. Think of spreading butter on toast or opening a cloth to cover a table, so spreading now means extending something over a larger area or among more people.