splay

¹splay

verb \ˈsplā\

Definition of SPLAY

transitive verb

1

: to cause to spread outward

2

: to make oblique : bevel

intransitive verb

1

: to extend apart or outward especially in an awkward manner

2

: slope, slant

Examples of SPLAY

1. He sat with his legs splayed apart.
2. She splayed her fingers to show off her manicure.
3. His fingers splayed out over the table as he steadied himself.

Origin of SPLAY

Middle English, short for displayen — more at display

First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with SPLAY

a, ae, bay, bey, blae, brae, bray, chez, clay, Cray, day, dey, dray, eh, fay, fey, flay, fley, frae, fray, Frey, gay, Gay, gey, gley, gray, hay, he, hey, Hue, j, jay, Jay, k, kay, Kay, lay, lei, may, nay, né, née, neigh, Ney, pay, pe, play, pray, prey, qua, quai, quay, Rae, ray, re, say, shay, slay, sleigh, spae, spay, Spey, spray, stay, stray, sway, Tay, they, tray, trey, way, weigh, whey, yea

²splay

noun

Definition of SPLAY

1

: a slope or bevel especially of the sides of a door or window

2

: spread, expansion

First Known Use of SPLAY

circa 1508

³splay

adjective

Definition of SPLAY

1

: turned outward <splay knees>

2

: awkward, ungainly

First Known Use of SPLAY

1548