Definition of splay
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Examples of splay in a Sentence
He sat with his legs splayed apart.
She splayed her fingers to show off her manicure.
His fingers splayed out over the table as he steadied himself.
Recent Examples of splay from the Web
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The area known as Kansas City’s West Bottoms generally splays southeast from the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas rivers, a low-lying stretch west of downtown’s bluffs.
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Put your wrists together, spread your hands out, and splay your fingers—that’s the shape of a sea spider’s gut.
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Helena Christensen soaked in the sun under a Spanish waterfall, her bronze limbs splayed in a floating demonstration of summertime bliss, as elsewhere, Serena Williams took to the courts for an al fresco workout, replete with growing baby bump.
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Images of Christie splayed out on Island Beach State Park, which was closed because of the budget impasse, drew fury from critics and the best Photoshop work on the internet.
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Granular details of the evidence were splayed across newspaper front pages and websites, parsed on radio talk shows and pored over in dueling spin contests.
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Deboned and splayed on a tray, with drumsticks and wings marking each corner, the duck is a marvel to behold as well as a joy to eat.
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This two-level home with three bedrooms and three full baths consists of two main volumes that are splayed away from one another and connected by the main living space.
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Footage then shows the man splayed on the ground, cuffed, wearing a white sneaker on his right foot and a gunshot to his left foot.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'splay.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of splay
Middle English, short for displayen — more at display
Recent Examples of splay from the Web
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Words in languages current, ancient and legendary splay across its doors, bumpers and hatches, predicting a future in which the people of the world are united.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'splay.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of splay
circa 1508
First Known Use of splay
1548
SPLAY Defined for English Language Learners
splay
playDefinition of splay for English Language Learners
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: to move (things, especially your legs, fingers, etc.) out and apart from each other
Learn More about splay
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See words that rhyme with splay Spanish Central: Translation of splay Nglish: Translation of splay for Spanish speakers
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