splay

1 of 3

verb

splayed; splaying; splays

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

splay

2 of 3

noun

1
: a slope or bevel especially of the sides of a door or window
2

splay

3 of 3

adjective

1
: turned outward
splay knees
2

Examples of splay in a Sentence

Verb 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 on the Web
Verb
The legs, which are made from solid rubber wood in a light walnut finish, are ever so slightly splayed. Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Nov. 2023 Her bare legs, adorned with distinctive diagonal tattoos, were splayed at unnatural angles. Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2023 When Vanity Fair celebrated his work in 2014, Mr. Dauman was asked to comment on some of his photos, including his 1970 portrait of the director Federico Fellini, who appears perplexed, his fingers splayed over his forehead. Richard Sandomir, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2023 From the dense warrens of old Kolkata to the city’s parks and apartment compounds, the makeshift pavilions, many of them wildly elaborate and colorful, feature handmade idols of the three-eyed goddess Durga, her 10 arms splayed out. Suhasini Raj Atul Loke, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2023 This regal option can be made entirely of jewel tones, or even be toned down to jewel accent flowers splayed throughout your arrangement. Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2023 With a streamlined design, two spacious drawers, antique bronze hardware, and splayed, tapered legs, this console table is a sophisticated yet useful entryway piece. L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 July 2023 We’re splayed out on the grass, each of us in front of full-length mirrors, having just conversed, out loud, with our reflections for three minutes. Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2023 In this campaign, she’s splayed in front of the historic statue, The Victory of Samothrace, who is a messenger of the win. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 1 Sep. 2023
Noun
Bont makes a wider shoe than many others on the market, allowing greater toe splay and more comfort for wider midfoots, and this high-performing shoe comes in two width options to fit a wide range of foot shapes and sizes. Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 16 Oct. 2023 It is shaped like my foot, snugging and securing the heel and arch while relaxing and opening up at the ball to allow for toe splay and flex. Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 16 Apr. 2020 The forefoot is roomy (for natural toe splay) without feeling sloppy, and the 26-millimeter-thick foam from heel to toe is both soft and responsive, resulting in a notably enjoyable ride. Cory Smith, Outside Online, 29 Aug. 2021 Bit’s rural Maryland home, and Mark McCullough’s vivid lighting design, from the cool lapis of the early evening to the prismatic splay of teal, turquoise and rose pink that coyly suggests sunset, are the clearest signifiers of the production’s shifting settings and tones. New York Times, 19 Apr. 2022 For those who have wide feet, Altra stands out for its unique toe box design that allows for full toe splay. Emma Seymour, Good Housekeeping, 17 Feb. 2023 Merrell designed this pair specifically for women, with our specific toe splay, hip width, and arch propensities in mind. Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2022 From the looks of the video, multiple vents were erupting from the New Southeast Crater, producing a splay of lava fountains during this intense strombolian eruption. Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 3 Dec. 2013 On the one hand, testers appreciated the rather voluminous fit for its comfort and natural toe-splay. Cory Smith, Outside Online, 18 Oct. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'splay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English splaien "to unfurl, spread out, spread-eagle, split (a fish) lengthwise and lay open," aphetic form of displaien "to unfurl (a banner), spread (the arms), display entry 1"

Noun

derivative of splay entry 1

Adjective

derivative of splay entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1508, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of splay was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near splay

Cite this Entry

“Splay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/splay. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

splay

verb
ˈsplā
: to spread out or apart
a colt with legs splayed out

More from Merriam-Webster on splay

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!