span 
span (span)
noun
- a unit of linear measure equal to nine inches, based on the distance between the tips of the extended thumb and little finger
- the full amount or extent between any two limits
- the distance between ends or supports the span of an arch
- the full duration (of) span of attention, the span of a person's life
- a part between two supports a bridge of four spans
- wingspan
- ☆
Etymology: borrowed in U.S. < Du span, in same sense
a team of two animals used together
Etymology: ME spanne < OE sponn, akin to Ger spanne < IE *(s)pen(d)-, to pull, draw (> spin, Gr span, to pull) < base *spe-, to pull, extend
transitive verb spanned, span′·ning
- to measure, esp. by the hand with the thumb and little finger extended
- to encircle with the hand or hands, in or as in measuring
- to extend, stretch, reach, or pass over or across the bridge that spans the river
- to furnish with something that extends or stretches over to span an aisle with an arch
Etymology: ME spannen < OE spannan, join: see span
span (span)
transitive verb, intransitive verb
Archaic spin
Span
- Spaniard
- Spanish
Object
- globe: Britain once ruled over a vast and powerful Empire, spanning the globe.
- decade: In a career spanning three decades, Jones has brought a wide range of keenly etched characters to the movie screen.
- continent: By virtue of tolerance and understanding, the Empire has evolved into a Commonwealth of 36 Independent Nations spanning the five Continents.
- spectrum: During the two days of this conference, expert speakers from all quarters will span the spectrum of system criticality.
- gamut: The evangelistic efforts of this group span the gamut from street preaching and door-to-door witnessing to evangelistic conversations and counseling with personal friends.. .
- millenium: They span five millennia, and are written on virtually every medium ever employed.
Converse of object
- shorten: The innovative solution arrived at by Halcrow was to reduce the shear forces at the supports by shortening the spans.
- lengthen: People are spending more of their lives living on their own -- through choice, through lengthening life spans and widowhood.
Preposition: over
- decade: A blues survivor, whose career spans over seven decades.
Adjective modifier
- trainshed: The longest platform faces under the trainshed spans are Nos. 8 and 9, which reach an impressive 1200 foot.
- short: We have a short attention span, I reckon.
- chronological: Its chronological range spans from Prehistoric times to the present day.
- five-year: The 1932 text was manufactured to last, where the 1987 reader is not likely to last beyond a five-year span.
- limited: The greater your interaction with a person in your limited time span, the more you will know about them.
Modifies a noun
- bridge: Whalley Lane Bridge ( No 45 ) - A single span masonry bridge over a public road.
Noun used with modifier
- attention: We have a short attention span, I reckon.
- wing: THE GANNET is Britain's largest seabird with a wing span of just under two meters.
- life: Life span You may also want to factor how long your new display device can last.
- concentration: Iâm always planning an exit, because I have the concentration span of a flea and I get bored after five years.
- repertoire: Clive's repertoire spans six centuries and includes the complete works of Maurice Duruflé and Olivier Messiaen.
When God at first made man, Having a glass of blessings standing by, 'Let us,'said he,'pour on him all we can: Let the world's riches, which disperse' d lie, Contract into a span'.
Wellcome, all Wonders in one sight! Eternity shut in a span. Summer in Winter, Day in Night. Heaven in Earth and God in Man.
Our Meistersinger, thou set breath in steel; And it was thou who on the boldest heel Stood up and flung the span on even wing Of that great Bridge, our Myth, whereof I sing.
I span and Eve span A thread to bind the heart of man!
The world's a bubble; and the life of man Less than a span.
I know my life's a pain and but a span, I know my sense is mocked in every thing; And to conclude, I know myself a man, Which is a proud and yet a wretched thing.
How right it seemed that he should reach the span Of comfortable years allowed to man! Splendid to eat and sleep and choose a wife, Safe with his wound, a citizen of life. He hobbled blithely through the garden gate, And thought: 'Thank God they had to amputate!'
Browse dictionary entries near span
- ‹ Spamming/Scrolling
- ‹ Spammers
- ‹ spam over instant messaging
- ‹ spam
- ‹ spalpeen
- ‹ spallation
- ‹ spall
- ‹ spaldeen
- ‹ spake
- ‹ Spain
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