splay

1 of 3

verb

ˈsplā 

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

: slope, slant

splay

2 of 3

noun

1

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

2

: spread, expansion

splay

3 of 3

adjective

1

: turned outward

splay knees

2

: awkward, ungainly

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

Seven-year-old Hailey Karch wandered around the seawall at Black Point Marina Wednesday morning where more than a dozen spiny lobster were splayed out on the cleaning table. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026

While the actress’ shoes have a rounded front, this pair has a square toe that helps your feet splay naturally and doesn’t pinch your toes. — Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026

Noun

The brand is known for its FootShape toe boxes that encourage splay, and for ZeroDrop platforms — equal stack height from heel to forefoot — to encourage a natural running form. — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 29 July 2026

The fin on the fish’s back breaks the water first, then the delicate splay of its tail. — Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026

Adjective

True to the brand’s legacy of comfort-forward technology, the shoes have plenty of room across the forefoot, allowing toes to naturally splay. — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

Our thoughts went back to the splay-foot tracks. — Bob Cary, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for splay

• ay
• bay
• bey
• brae
• cay
• chez
• dey
• dray
• fay
• fey
• flay
• fray

Kids Definition

splay

verb

ˈsplā

: to spread out or apart

a colt with legs splayed out