spreader

noun

spread·​er ˈspre-dər 

: one that spreads: such as

a

: an implement for scattering material

b

: a small knife used especially for spreading butter

c

: a device (such as a bar) holding two linear elements (such as lines, guys, rails) apart and usually taut

Examples of spreader in a Sentence

Mosquito are spreaders of disease.

Recent Examples on the Web

Special items — serving utensils, such as, spreaders and cheese knives, spoons and forks of various sizes, and tongs. —Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025

Using a broadcast spreader, set the dial to the manufacturer’s recommendation and fill the compartment with fertilizer. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2025

Use a spreader to apply fall fertilizer when soil is moist after rain. —Charlotte Germane, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2025

Advertisement Rupert Murdoch founded NewsCorp, which today includes Fox News and the Wall Street Journal, two of the most notorious spreaders of both COVID-19 and climate disinformation. —Michael E. Mann, Time, 17 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spreader

• silent spreader
• super-spreader

Rhymes for spreader

• cheddar
• header
• pedder
• redder
• shredder

Kids Definition

spreader

noun

spread·​er ˈspred-ər 

: one that spreads: as

a

: an implement for scattering material

b

: a small knife used especially for spreading butter