spread

verb \ ˈspred \

Updated on: 8 Dec 2017

Definition of spread

spread; spreading

transitive verb

1 a : to open or expand over a larger area

spread out the map

b : to stretch out : extend

spread its wings for flight

2 a : to distribute over an area

spread fertilizer

b : to distribute over a period or among a group

spread the work over a few weeks

c : to apply on a surface

spread butter on bread

d (1) : to cover or overlay something with

spread the cloth on the table

(2) archaic : to cover completely

e (1) : to prepare or furnish for dining : set

spread the table

(2) : serve

spread the afternoon tea

3 a : to make widely known

spread the news

b : to extend the range or incidence of

spread a disease

c : diffuse, emit

flowers spreading their fragrance

4 : to push apart by weight or force

intransitive verb

1 a : to become dispersed, distributed, or scattered

b : to become known or disseminated

panic spread rapidly

2 : to grow in length or breadth : expand

3 : to move apart (as from pressure or weight) : separate

—

spreadability

play \ˌspre-də-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

—

spreadable

play \ˈspre-də-bəl\ adjective

See spread defined for English-language learners

See spread defined for kids

Examples of spread in a Sentence

The newspaper was spread across his lap.
Her notes were spread all over the desk.
Help me spread the cloth on the table.
We spread fertilizer on our yard.
The seeds are spread by wind, birds, and animals.
The fire spread quickly through the building.
The cancer has spread to her throat.
The use of computer technology has spread into all fields of work.
The odor spread throughout the room.
The fashion quickly spread from France to England.

Recent Examples of spread from the Web

This week, their best chance on offense might be spreading the field and getting their playmakers in space.

— jake lourim, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville football vs. Wake Forest: 3 keys and a prediction," 27 Oct. 2017
The death toll has passed 20 and hundreds of people are reported missing as more than a dozen wildfires spread across Northern California, forcing tens of thousands to flee.

— ian lovett, WSJ, "Shifting Conditions, Poor Communications Complicate California Wildfires," 12 Oct. 2017
Tulane ranks 15th nationally in rushing with its shotgun spread attack, with plenty of zone read and zone blocking.

— tom groeschen, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Tulane Green Wave football: Scouting report and prediction," 3 Nov. 2017
The aegypti mosquito spread rapidly through the Americas and reigned supreme among blood-sucking insects for several hundred years.

— dennis pillion | [email protected], AL.com, "Dishonorable mention: More invasive species bugging Alabama," 2 Nov. 2017
And Australia had a particularly rough flu season, but scientists say the strain of flu that spread there is included in this year's flu vaccine.

— megan friedman, Country Living, "Brace Yourself: Flu Season Is Going to Be Especially Bad This Year," 31 Oct. 2017
The book was a bestseller and strongly influenced the obsession with witchcraft for two hundred years, spreading slowly through continental Europe and then the Scandinavian countries, which became particularly obsessed with the subject.

— kat eschner, Smithsonian, "How New Printing Technology Gave Witches Their Familiar Silhouette," 30 Oct. 2017
Hatred of Rohingyas is generated by sulphuric propaganda spread through Facebook.

— The Economist, "BanyanIs the world getting Myanmar wrong?," 26 Oct. 2017
News and footage of the incident quickly spread online, with fans standing behind the singer with the hashtag #RespectHarry.

— peggy truong, Cosmopolitan, "Harry Styles Fans Are Angry After Someone Grabbed His Crotch During a Concert," 23 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'spread.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of spread

Middle English spreden, from Old English -sprǣdan; akin to Old High German spreiten to spread

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

spread Synonyms

Synonyms

broadcast, circulate, disseminate, propagate

Antonyms

converge, join

Related Words

radiate, sprawl; diffuse, dispense, disperse, dissipate, scatter, sow; communicate, convey, impart, pass (on), transmit

Near Antonyms

cloak, conceal, enshroud, hide, hold (in), mask, obscure, secrete, shroud, veil; contain, limit, restrict

spread

noun

Definition of spread

1 a : the act or process of spreading

b : extent of spreading

2 : something spread out: such as

a : a surface area : expanse

b (1) : a ranch or homestead especially in the western U.S.

(2) Western US : a herd of animals

c (1) : a prominent display in a periodical

(2) : two facing pages (as of a newspaper) usually with matter running across the fold; also : the matter occupying these pages

3 : something spread on or over a surface: such as

a : a food to be spread (as on bread or crackers)

a cheese spread

b : a sumptuous meal : feast

c : a cloth cover for a table or bed

4 : distance between two points : gap

5 : a commodities market transaction in which a participant hedges with simultaneous long and short options in different commodities or different delivery dates in the same commodity

See spread defined for English-language learners

Examples of spread in a Sentence

She offered crackers and a cheese spread.
He uses low-fat spread on his toast.

Recent Examples of spread from the Web

Consider this: Boise State is 1-12 against the spread in its past 13 home games, according to oddsshark.com.

— chadd cripe, idahostatesman, "Boise State fans could lose tax benefit; will Broncos finally roll at home this week?," 2 Nov. 2017
Although these systems have been around for years, this technology hasn’t spread to popular devices like the iPhone until recently.

— motoko rich, New York Times, "Encountering Robots While Still Using Fax Machines in Japan," 1 Nov. 2017
Instead of narrowing, though, the spread more than tripled to above $1,000 a ton by December.

— mark burton, Bloomberg.com, "How a Copper-Price Rigging Case Landed Barclays in Court, Again," 26 Oct. 2017
Kentucky is 2-0 against the spread against SEC teams and 0-3 against teams not from the SEC this season.

— fletcher page, The Courier-Journal, "Lynn Bowden and Kentucky football are on similar non-conventional paths | Fletcher Page," 3 Oct. 2017
As automation spreads, experts expect a growing need for employees that know how to maintain the new technology.

— ally marotti, chicagotribune.com, "Will your next new co-worker be a robot? Automation is hitting office jobs in Chicago," 7 Sep. 2017
As ownership of EVs spreads, another reassuring fact is becoming clear: the amount of daily driving that people actually do, combined with an ability to charge at home, mean public charging facilities are rarely needed.

— The Economist, "An infrastructure for charging electric vehicles takes shape," 7 Sep. 2017
In addition to the cover, Kim also shared some highlights from the spread, featuring sweet moments between her and four-year-old North.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kim Kardashian Is "America's New First Lady" on Her Latest Magazine Cover," 28 Aug. 2017
In a small bowl, combine fruit preserves and ginger; spread 1 teaspoon onto a cookie and top with another cookie.

— lauren oster, Redbook, "Adventures in Christmas Baking: Kringle-Spiced Pringles Cookies," 20 Dec. 2010

First Known Use of spread

1565

spread Synonyms

Synonyms

bedcover (also bedcovering), bedspread, coverlet, hap [dialect], counterpane

Related Words

comforter, puff, quilt; bedclothes, bedding, clothes

SPREAD Defined for English Language Learners

spread

verb

Definition of spread for English Language Learners

: to open, arrange, or place (something) over a large area
: to place (things) over a large area
: to become larger or to affect a larger area : to move into more places

spread

noun

Definition of spread for English Language Learners

: growth or increase that causes something to cover a larger area, affect a larger number of people, etc.
: a soft food that is spread on bread, crackers, etc.
: the total distance between the two outer edges of something

SPREAD Defined for Kids

spread

verb \ ˈspred \

Definition of spread for Students

spread; spreading

1 : to stretch out : extend

I spread my arms wide.

2 : to pass or cause to pass from person to person

The news spread rapidly.

Flies can spread disease.

3 : to open or arrange over a larger area

The captain spread out a map.

4 : to increase in size or occurrence

The fire keeps spreading.

Cell phone use spread quickly.

5 : to scatter or be scattered

spread fertilizer

6 : to give out over a period of time or among a group

The boss spread work to make it last.

7 : to put or have a layer of on a surface

He spread butter on bread.

8 : to cover something with

Mom spread a cloth on the table.

9 : to stretch or move apart

I spread my fingers open.

10 : to prepare for a meal : set

The table was spread for dinner.

spread

noun

Definition of spread for Students

1 : the act or process of increasing in size, amount, or occurrence

the spread of education

2 : the distance between two points that are farthest to each side

the spread of a bird's wings

3 : a noticeable display in a magazine or newspaper

4 : a food to be put over the surface of bread or crackers

cheese spread

5 : a very fine meal : feast

6 : a cloth cover for a table or bed

Law Dictionary

spread

noun

legal Definition of spread

1 a : the difference between any two prices for similar articles

the spread between the list price and the market price of an article

b : the difference between the highest and lowest prices of a product or security for a given period

c : the difference between bid and asked prices (as of a stock)

2 a : a simultaneous put option and call option in which the put price and the call price differ so that no profit is made unless the price falls below or rises above the put or call price respectively by more than enough to cover the cost of the option; also : the difference between the put price and call price

b : a transaction in which a participant hedges with simultaneous long and short options in different commodities or different delivery dates in the same commodity

3 : an arbitrage transaction operated by buying and selling simultaneously in two markets when there is an abnormal difference in price between the two markets; also : the difference in price

4 : the difference between the yields on investments in fixed-income securities equal in quality but with different maturity dates or with the same maturity dates but unequal quality