Etymology: Middle English spreden, from Old English -sprǣdan; akin to Old High German spreiten to spread
Date: 13th century
transitive verb1 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 verb1 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