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 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 : expand3: 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