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spread Definition

spread (spred)

transitive verb spread, spread′·ing

  1. to draw out so as to display more fully; open or stretch out so as to cover more space; unfold or unfurl
  2. to lay out in display; exhibit
  3. to move apart (the fingers, arms, legs, wings, etc.)
    1. to distribute over a surface or area; scatter; disperse
    2. to distribute among a group to spread the wealth
    1. to distribute in a thin layer; smear to spread butter on toast
    2. to cover by smearing (with something) to spread bread with jelly
  6. to extend or prolong in time to spread payments over a two-year period
  7. to cause to be widely or more widely known, felt, existent, etc.; disseminate; propagate; diffuse to spread news, a disease, etc.
  8. to cover, overlay, or deck (with something)
    1. to set (a table) for a meal
    2. to set (food) on a table
  10. to push apart or farther apart
  11. ☆ to record in full; enter (on a record)
  12. to flatten out (a rivet, etc.) by hammering

Etymology: ME spreden < OE sprædan, akin to Ger spreiten < IE *sprei-d-, to sprinkle, strew < base *(s)p(h)er-, to strew, spray, burst (of buds) > spray, sprawl, sprout

intransitive verb

  1. to extend itself; be extended or expanded
  2. to become distributed or dispersed
  3. to be made widely or more widely known, felt, existent, etc.; be disseminated, propagated, or diffused
  4. to be pushed apart or farther apart
  5. to be of such consistency that it can be distributed in a thin layer, as butter; be capable of being smeared

noun

  1. the act of spreading; extension; expansion; diffusion
    1. the extent to which something is spread or can be spread
    2. the interval or difference between the highest and lowest figures of a set, as of the scores of a test
    3. the difference between related prices, rates, etc., as that between the prices at which a broker buys and sells shares of a stock
    4. in betting, the number of points by which a team, esp. a football team, is expected to defeat its opponent
  3. an expanse; extent; stretch; compass
  4. ☆
    1. two facing pages of a newspaper, magazine, etc., treated as a single continuous sheet, as in advertising
    2. printed matter set across a page, or across several columns, of a newspaper, magazine, etc.
  5. ☆ a cloth cover for a table, bed, etc.
  6. ☆ any soft substance, as jam, butter, etc., used for spreading on bread
  7. Informal a meal, esp. one with a wide variety of food
  8. Informal a pretentious display
  9. ☆ a ranch, or any large farm or estate

spread Idioms

spread oneself thin

☆

to try to do too many things at once

spread Synonyms

spread

modif.

expanded, dispersed, extended, opened, unfurled, sown, scattered, diffused, strewn, spread thin, disseminated, overflowed, broadcast; see also distributed.

Antonyms restricted*, narrowed, restrained.

spread Synonyms

spread

n.

  1. Extent

    scope, range, expanse; see extent, measure 1.

  2. A spread cloth

    blanket, coverlet, counterpane; see bedspread, cover 1, tablecloth.

  3. A spread food

    preserve, conserve, jelly; see butter, cheese, preserves.

  4. *A meal

    feast, banquet, informal repast; see dinner, lunch, meal 2.

spread Synonyms

spread

v.

  1. To distribute

    cast, diffuse, disseminate; see radiate 1, scatter 2, sow.

  2. To become spread

    lie, flatten, level, flow, even out, be distributed, settle.

  3. To extend

    open, unfurl, roll out, unroll, unfold, reach, circulate, lengthen, widen, expand, untwist, unwind, uncoil, enlarge, increase, develop, radiate, branch off, diverge, expand; see also grow 1, reach 1.

    Antonyms close*, shorten*, shrink. *

  4. To apply over a surface

    cover, coat, smear, daub, overlay, overspread, plate, gloss, enamel, paint, spatter, spray, veneer, plaster, gild, pave, diffuse, wax, varnish.

  5. To separate

    part, sever, disperse; see divide 1, separate 2.

  6. To make known

    publish, broadcast, proclaim; see advertise 1, declare 1.

spread Finance Definition

The difference between a security’s purchase price and its selling price. The term is used in many different contexts. For underwriters of bond or stock offerings, the spread is the difference between what underwriters pay for the security and what they sell it for; the spread provides the basic compensation to the underwriters. In futures trading, the spread is called a bid/ask spread. It is the difference between what a futures contract can be purchased at and what it can be sold at. The ask price, or the price at which something is sold, nearly always will be higher than the bid price. Market makers make their profit on the spread.

spread Usage Examples

Object

  • rumor: Delmer's propaganda stories included spreading rumors that foreign workers were sleeping with the wives of German soldiers serving overseas.
  • gospel: Roman citizenship had been of considerable benefit to Paul to enable him better to spread the gospel.
  • word: We would like to spread the word around the United Kingdom.

Converse of object

  • prevent: The Minister has powers under the Weeds Act 1959 to require an occupier of land to prevent the spread of creeping thistle.
  • halt: We support the millenium development goal of halting the spread of HIV and AIDS, malaria and other major diseases by 2015.

Adjective modifier

  • geographical: The geographical spread of high BNP votes is also widening.
  • geographic: Our latest assessment is that there is a high risk of further global geographic spread of avian flu in birds.
  • low-fat: Be careful not to misdescribe bread and butter by using margarine or low-fat spread.
  • rapid: Audio programming has become cheap and easy to make and has led to the rapid spread of the podcasting phenomenon.
  • metastatic: All costs for treatment in relation to the primary presenting tumor and metastatic spread will be excluded including any complications relating to the cancer.

Modifies a noun

  • betting: Home | About World Leaders in Spread Betting With spread betting, the better your judgment, the for a change of luck?
  • bet: Can I use spread bets to play penny shares?
  • better: Different products have different days of expiry so spread betters must check and be aware of these dates beforehand.

Noun used with modifier

double-page: This gives me 3o or more double-page spreads, some of which work better than others.

Present participle complement

bet: However as I've been saying for many years now one of the beauties about spread betting firms is their flexibility.

Preposition: of

  • infection: This in turn would mean we would be less able to prevent future spread of infections.
  • disease: The goal is to reverse the spread of these dread diseases by 2015.
  • gospel: And thirdly, church growth is caused by the spread of the gospel.

Preposition: like

wildfire: Report of the 9 Prophet's illness, soon followed by tidings of his death, had spread like wildfire over the land.

Preposition: by

mosquito: It is spread by mosquitoes and there is no vaccine.