spread; spreading
1
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
3
4
: to push apart by weight or force
1
a
: to become dispersed, distributed, or scattered
b
: to become known or disseminated
panic spread rapidly
2
: to grow in length or breadth : expand
3
: to move apart (as from pressure or weight) : separate
1
a
: the act or process of spreading
b
: extent of spreading
2
: something spread out: such as
a
: a surface area : expanse
b(1)
: a ranch or homestead especially in the western U.S.
(2)
Western US
: a herd of animals
c(1)
: a prominent display in a periodical
(2)
: two facing pages (as of a newspaper) usually with matter running across the fold
also
: the matter occupying these pages
3
: something spread on or over a surface: such as
a
: a food to be spread (as on bread or crackers)
a cheese spread
b
: a sumptuous meal : feast
c
: a cloth cover for a table or bed
4
: distance between two points : gap
5
: a commodities market transaction in which a participant hedges with simultaneous long and short options in different commodities or different delivery dates in the same commodity
Synonyms
Examples of spread in a Sentence
Verb
The newspaper was spread across his lap.
Her notes were spread all over the desk.
Help me spread the cloth on the table.
We spread fertilizer on our yard.
The seeds are spread by wind, birds, and animals.
The fire spread quickly through the building.
The cancer has spread to her throat.
The use of computer technology has spread into all fields of work.
The odor spread throughout the room.
The fashion quickly spread from France to England.
Noun
She offered crackers and a cheese spread.
He uses low-fat spread on his toast.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
M.l. Nestel, ABC News, 19 Nov. 2023
From there, the fruit spread throughout the U.S. Northeast and Upper Midwest.
—Serina Desalvio, Discover Magazine, 18 Nov. 2023
Lyme disease is spread by the bite of a black-legged tick.
—Linda Carroll, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2023
Social media platforms are struggling to keep up with the influx of misinformation, antisemitic and Islamophobic hate speech that has spread following the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 17 Nov. 2023
The Anti-Defamation League, a prominent Jewish civil-rights organization, has previously accused Musk of allowing antisemitism and hate speech to spread on the platform and amplifying the messages of neo-Nazis and white supremacists who want to ban the group.
—Kelvin Chan, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2023
Parks officials said that since the mid-1980s, the fatal brain disease has spread across Wyoming and is now found in most of the state.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 16 Nov. 2023
Micheaux has since turned to TikTok to share her story and spread awareness about carbon monoxide poisoning.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2023
But during the last decade, the infection has spread to more heterosexual men and women.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2023
Vulture, 15 Nov. 2023
The high incidence of violence before and after 2018, and its geographic spread, indicates that no easy starting point can be drawn for crimes that deserve accountability.
—Patrick Vinck, Foreign Affairs, 15 Nov. 2023
With ample space to serve up a delicious and gorgeous spread, this board set comes with everything needed for your host friends to create the charcuterie of their dreams.
—Molly Menning, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2023
More than 500 people — including children and staff — are being tested, as the window for exposure to the infectious patient spreads from late May to October.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 14 Nov. 2023
It can be credited with the rapid spread of VCRs, cable, and the Internet—and with several important Web technologies.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
Every vessel of Vegemite, the spread beloved in Australia and not so much outside it, has for the past 80 years begun its journey here.
—Natasha Frost Abigail Varney, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023
Serve bottomless Champagne and mimosas, with an indulgent spread of yogurt parfaits, French toast, and Eggs Benedict.
—Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 12 Nov. 2023
In the spread shot by Norman Jean Roy, Nicki is styled by Max Ortega in a variation of looks which include pieces by Alexander McQueen, Vetements, Ferragamo, and Marc Jacobs.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 10 Nov. 2023
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Verb
The organization touches lives in 80 countries around the world building houses for the homeless, helping farmers in developing nations, training nurses, and eradicating Guinea worm disease, a debilitating parasitic infection spread by drinking water contaminated with the worm's larvae.
—M.l. Nestel, ABC News, 19 Nov. 2023
From there, the fruit spread throughout the U.S. Northeast and Upper Midwest.
—Serina Desalvio, Discover Magazine, 18 Nov. 2023
Lyme disease is spread by the bite of a black-legged tick.
—Linda Carroll, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2023
Social media platforms are struggling to keep up with the influx of misinformation, antisemitic and Islamophobic hate speech that has spread following the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 17 Nov. 2023
The Anti-Defamation League, a prominent Jewish civil-rights organization, has previously accused Musk of allowing antisemitism and hate speech to spread on the platform and amplifying the messages of neo-Nazis and white supremacists who want to ban the group.
—Kelvin Chan, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2023
Parks officials said that since the mid-1980s, the fatal brain disease has spread across Wyoming and is now found in most of the state.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 16 Nov. 2023
Micheaux has since turned to TikTok to share her story and spread awareness about carbon monoxide poisoning.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2023
But during the last decade, the infection has spread to more heterosexual men and women.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2023
Noun
Throughout the spread, a pair of gray sweatpants or a bath towel tucked at his hips provide the most coverage.
—Vulture, 15 Nov. 2023
The high incidence of violence before and after 2018, and its geographic spread, indicates that no easy starting point can be drawn for crimes that deserve accountability.
—Patrick Vinck, Foreign Affairs, 15 Nov. 2023
With ample space to serve up a delicious and gorgeous spread, this board set comes with everything needed for your host friends to create the charcuterie of their dreams.
—Molly Menning, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2023
More than 500 people — including children and staff — are being tested, as the window for exposure to the infectious patient spreads from late May to October.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 14 Nov. 2023
It can be credited with the rapid spread of VCRs, cable, and the Internet—and with several important Web technologies.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
Every vessel of Vegemite, the spread beloved in Australia and not so much outside it, has for the past 80 years begun its journey here.
—Natasha Frost Abigail Varney, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023
Serve bottomless Champagne and mimosas, with an indulgent spread of yogurt parfaits, French toast, and Eggs Benedict.
—Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 12 Nov. 2023
In the spread shot by Norman Jean Roy, Nicki is styled by Max Ortega in a variation of looks which include pieces by Alexander McQueen, Vetements, Ferragamo, and Marc Jacobs.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 10 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spread.' 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 spreden, from Old English -sprǣdan; akin to Old High German spreiten to spread
First Known Use
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of spread was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing spread
Articles Related to spread
Dictionary Entries Near spread
Cite this Entry
“Spread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spread. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
spread
1 of 2 verb
spread; spreading
1
a
: to open over a larger area
spread out a map
b
: to stretch out : extend
spread her arms wide
2
a
: to scatter over an area
spread fertilizer
b
: to give out over a period or among a group
spread the work over several weeks
c
: to put a layer of on a surface
spread butter on bread
d
: to cover something with
spread the cloth on the table
e
: to prepare for a meal : set
spread a table
3
a
: to become or cause to become widely known
spread the news
the panic spread rapidly
b
: to extend the range or occurrence of
spread a disease
4
: to stretch or move apart
spread one's fingers
spread
2 of 2 noun1
a
: the act or process of spreading
the spread of education
b
: the extent of spreading
the spread of a bird's wings
2
: a very noticeable display in a newspaper or magazine
a two-page spread
3
a
: a food to be spread on bread or crackers
a cheese spread
b
: a very fine meal : feast
c
: a cloth cover for a table or bed
4
: distance between two points
Legal Definition
spread
noun1
a
: the difference between any two prices for similar articles
the spread between the list price and the market price of an article
b
: the difference between the highest and lowest prices of a product or security for a given period
c
: the difference between bid and asked prices (as of a stock)
2
a
: a simultaneous put option and call option in which the put price and the call price differ so that no profit is made unless the price falls below or rises above the put or call price respectively by more than enough to cover the cost of the option
also
: the difference between the put price and call price
b
: a transaction in which a participant hedges with simultaneous long and short options in different commodities or different delivery dates in the same commodity
3
: an arbitrage transaction operated by buying and selling simultaneously in two markets when there is an abnormal difference in price between the two markets
also
: the difference in price
4
: the difference between the yields on investments in fixed-income securities equal in quality but with different maturity dates or with the same maturity dates but unequal quality
More from Merriam-Webster on spread
Nglish: Translation of spread for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of spread for Arabic Speakers
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