spread

1 to cause to be known over a considerable area or by many people spread the news! Synonyms broadcast, circulate, disseminate, propagate Related Words radiate, sprawl; diffuse, dispense, disperse, dissipate, scatter, sow; communicate, convey, impart, pass (on), transmit Near Antonyms cloak, conceal, enshroud, hide, hold (in), mask, obscure, secrete, shroud, veil; contain, limit, restrict

2 to put a layer of on a surface we spread the fertilizer over the lawn evenly until it was fully covered Synonyms apply, lay, lay on Related Words anoint, bedaub, besmear, dab, daub, plaster, slather, smear; blanket, carpet, coat, cover, layer, mantle, overlay, overlie, overspread, sheet, surface Near Antonyms bare, expose, peel, strip, uncover

3 to become known once news of the war's end had spread, spontaneous celebrations broke out everywhere Synonyms break, circulate, come out, get about, get around, get round, leak (out), out, get outRelated Words develop, transpire, unfold; disclose, reveal, spill, tellNear Antonyms hush (up), suppress; conceal, disguise, hide, mask; secrete

4 to cause (something) to pass from one to another living conditions that help to spread chicken pox Synonyms conduct, convey, give, impart, communicate, transfer, transfuse, transmitRelated Words deliver, hand over, surrender, turn over; broadcast, diffuse, disseminate, propagate; hand down, hand on; contaminate, infect, poisonNear Antonyms catch, come down (with), contract

5 to go or move in different directions from a central point the walls of the old barn spread under the weight of the snow on the roof Synonyms branch (out), diverge, divide, fork, part, separateRelated Words bestrew, break up, broadcast, clear out, disband, dispel, disperse, dissipate, distribute, scatter, sow; distance, recede, retreatNear Antonyms assemble, gather, meetAntonyms converge, join

6 to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number dissatisfaction with the new administration is spreading rapidly Synonyms accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon (also bourgeon), climb, enlarge, escalate, expand, gain, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, increase, swell, waxRelated Words jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge; heighten, intensify, redouble; blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up); crescendo, crest, peakAntonyms contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane