Main Entry: ¹spread

Pronunciation: \ˈspred\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): spread; spread·ing

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

Date: 13th century

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 forceintransitive 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

— spread·abil·i·ty \ˌspre-də-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— spread·able \ˈspre-də-bəl\ adjective