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spread

spread

 
 
pronunciation:
spred
parts of speech:
transitive verb, intransitive verb, noun
features:
Word Combinations (verb, noun), Word Builder, Word Explorer
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: spreads, spreading, spread
definition 1: to open, expand, or unfold.
He spread the newspaper and lay it on the table.
 
synonyms:
expand, extend, open, stretch
antonyms:
compress, fold
similar words:
carry, lay out, roll, unfold
definition 2: to widen the space between.
He spread his arms to hug the children.She spread the curtains to let in the sunlight.
synonyms:
open
definition 3: to put on in a layer.
She spread some jam on her bread.
synonyms:
layer, slather, smear
similar words:
apply, bedaub, coat, daub, heap, overspread, paint, pave, pile, plaster
definition 4: to cover with a layer.
She spread the slices of bread with butter.
definition 5: to scatter or distribute.
The neighbors spread the news about the strange incident.One infected worker spread the disease among his co-workers at the factory.
synonyms:
broadcast, circulate, disperse, disseminate, distribute, strew
antonyms:
suppress
similar words:
bruit, cast, diffuse, pass, propagate, publish, scatter, sift, sow
definition 6: to set (a table) for a meal.
By five o'clock the banquet tables had all been beautifully spread.
synonyms:
lay, set
 
part of speech: intransitive verb
definition 1: to become distributed or dispersed over an extended area.
The weeds spread until they covered the entire garden.The disease spread across the city.
synonyms:
diffuse, expand, permeate, radiate
similar words:
disperse, effuse, extend, fan, range, stretch
definition 2: to become stretched out, parted, or extended.
As the wings of the butterfly spread, a beautiful pattern is revealed.
synonyms:
expand, extend, open, reach, stretch
similar words:
fan, roll, sweep, unfold
definition 3: to be capable of being applied in a layer.
The butter is soft now and spreads easily.
similar words:
smear
definition 4: to be broadcast or disseminated.
The rumor spread quickly over the internet.
synonyms:
circulate
similar words:
come out, scatter
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part of speech: noun
definition 1: the act or process of spreading.
She stopped the spread of the spilled milk with a paper towel.
synonyms:
covering, distribution
definition 2: the process of extending, expanding, or diffusing.
The city took urgent measures to stop the spread of the illness.
synonyms:
diffusion, dispersion, expansion, extension
definition 3: a stretch of open space; expanse.
synonyms:
expanse, extent, field, reach, stretch, sweep
definition 4: farmland; ranch.
synonyms:
farmstead, homestead, ranch
definition 5: a cloth covering that is put over certain articles of furniture such as a bed or table.
synonyms:
bedspread, comforter, counterpane, coverlet, quilt, tablecloth
definition 6: food that can be spread on crackers, bread, vegetables, or the like.
synonyms:
butter, paste
definition 7: (informal) a large meal, usu. set out on a table.
synonyms:
feed
similar words:
repast
definition 8: an article or advertisement extending over a number of columns or over two facing pages in a newspaper or magazine.
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivation: spreadable (adj.)
Word Builder: spread +
  • spreader:
    a machine for spreading something on a surface.
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See
  disease, food, virus