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to dispread

to dispread

9.9
To move outward in many directions to cover a wide area
  • verb
  • /dɪˈsprɛd/
  • Archaic
translation icon : extenderse
  • As the sun rose, the warm light dispread across the landscape, illuminating the hills.

Examples

  • Trees dispread their branches in all directions.

  • The flowers dispread across the field.

  • A sense of calm dispread through the quiet hall.

  • The branches dispread above us, creating a canopy of leaves.

  • The golden light dispread across the evening sky.

  • The branches dispread across the garden, offering shade to anyone sitting underneath.

  • The flowers dispread their vibrant petals, attracting bees and butterflies from afar.

Synonyms

to spread
vsto dispread
664 1.6

To put a thin layer over a surface

is about extending widely in different directions rather than only covering a surface
to disperse
vsto dispread
104 4.4

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

is about extending widely in different directions rather than scattering or breaking up
to spread out
vsto dispread
89 2.8

To move apart and cover a wider area

is about extending widely rather than merely things moving away from each other
to diffuse
vsto dispread
40 5.5

To spread out and reach many people or places

is about physical extension in many directions rather than broad distribution or reach
to fan out
vsto dispread
30 3.7

To spread out from one point in different directions

is about extending widely in many directions rather than only from one center
to sprawl
vsto dispread
27 4.6

To spread out over a large area in an untidy way

is about even wide extension rather than messy irregular expansion
sprawling
vsto dispread
26 4.4

Spreading out over a large area in an untidy way like a city or tree branches

is about deliberate wide extension rather than uncontrolled messy growth
to flare
vsto dispread
15 4.1

To become wider at one end or edge

is about extending widely in different directions rather than slow widening at one edge
to splay
vsto dispread
13 6.7

To turn something outward, especially fingers or toes

is about extending widely overall rather than only turning specific parts outward
to flare out
vsto dispread
1 3.8

To become wider at one end like a dress or vase

is about extending widely in many directions rather than widening at a single end
to diffusing
vsto dispread
1 3.9

Spreading slowly from one place to another, like light or a smell

is about general quick extension rather than slow gradual dispersal
to divaricate
vsto dispread
  • Specialized
9.9

To spread apart from a common point like fingers or branches

is about extending widely in different directions rather than only splitting near one point

Antonyms

130 3.6

To bring people or things together in one place

94 3.7

To press something so it takes less space

How Wide

to fan out
30 3.7
to dispread
  • Archaic
9.9
to radiate
8 5.0
to spread
664 1.6
to extend
265 2.7

Surface Forms

dispread infinitive
dispread past
dispread past participle
dispreading present participle
dispreads third person singular

Morphology

dispread = spread (semi-transparent) = dis + spread

The verb is formed from 'spread' with the prefix 'dis-' meaning 'apart/widely' rather than the more familiar negating sense of 'dis-', so the relation to 'spread' is clear but the prefix semantics may mislead learners.

Etymology

Dispread starts with dis-, which means 'apart' or 'away', and ends with the everyday word spread, which means 'to stretch out'. So dispread is like 'spread apart' or 'spread away', which explains why it means to spread out or extend widely in different directions.