spread
1 of 2verb
ˈspred 
spread; spreading
transitive verb
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
e(1)
: to prepare or furnish for dining : set
spread the table
(2)
: serve
spread the afternoon tea
3
a
: to make widely known
spread the news
b
: to extend the range or incidence of
spread a disease
c
: diffuse, emit
flowers spreading their fragrance
4
: to push apart by weight or force
intransitive verb
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
spreadability
ˌspre-də-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun spreadable
ˈspre-də-bəl
adjective spread
2 of 2noun
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
Verb
- broadcast
- circulate
- disseminate
- propagate
Noun
- bedcover
- bedcovering
- bedspread
- counterpane
- coverlet
- hap [dialect]
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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
Niha Masih, Washington Post, 17 Sep. 2022 Fiona is expected to spread heavy rain and damaging winds across Puerto Rico, and forecasters are particularly concerned about the threat of flash flooding and mudslides in the higher terrain areas. Leigh Morgan, al, 17 Sep. 2022 Team Forrest Stump raced 198 miles to spread the message that people with disabilities deserve equitable access to participation in physical activity. Allison Torres Burtka, Outside Online, 16 Sep. 2022 Without a firmer, broader commitment from Beijing, China’s housing woes will continue to spread. Jacky Wong, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 At one point, attendees also got to hear from the hosts about the importance of voting and helping to spread the message to others ahead of November 8. Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 16 Sep. 2022 Little hopes the Watson family will inspire other people to spread kindness in their communities. Wendy Grossman Kantor, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2022 The organization is looking to spread the 12-week pilot campaign from Phoenix to other communities. Eryka Forquer, The Arizona Republic, 16 Sep. 2022 Others prefer to spread the regular thermal paste around the CPU with a flat surface, similar to buttering toast. Toby Grey, BGR, 15 Sep. 2022 Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2022 More:TikTok star Sophia Zang's Whitefish Bay house flip sold for $1,089,900 News of the listing spread quickly across the internet, as Wright fans across the country clambered to see the rare home. Genevieve Redsten, Journal Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2022 Stage 1 papillary or follicular thyroid cancer is used to describe any small tumor with no spread to the lymph nodes and no metastasis, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology website cancer.net. Stephen Simpson, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2022 Take the Mean Green on the moneyline as the spread has dropped below the key number of three. Doug Ziefel, Chicago Tribune, 17 Sep. 2022 Costumes to turn me into a spread-winged vampire bat, a king cobra, Papa Smurf. Sólveig Eva Magnúsdóttir, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022 Longini is urging the CDC alongside local health departments to improve efforts to reduce spread through widespread testing, better contact tracing, and quarantining or vaccinating all potential contacts. Caroline Catherman, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Sep. 2022 The spread of literacy in the early modern West was driven by people’s desire to read God’s word for themselves, to be empowered by an experience of unmediated connection. Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2022 As the video spread, so did demands among community members for justice for the teen boy. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2022 See More
Verb
Hundreds of locals, who have been tapped to spread awareness about the animals, will attend. Niha Masih, Washington Post, 17 Sep. 2022 Fiona is expected to spread heavy rain and damaging winds across Puerto Rico, and forecasters are particularly concerned about the threat of flash flooding and mudslides in the higher terrain areas. Leigh Morgan, al, 17 Sep. 2022 Team Forrest Stump raced 198 miles to spread the message that people with disabilities deserve equitable access to participation in physical activity. Allison Torres Burtka, Outside Online, 16 Sep. 2022 Without a firmer, broader commitment from Beijing, China’s housing woes will continue to spread. Jacky Wong, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 At one point, attendees also got to hear from the hosts about the importance of voting and helping to spread the message to others ahead of November 8. Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 16 Sep. 2022 Little hopes the Watson family will inspire other people to spread kindness in their communities. Wendy Grossman Kantor, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2022 The organization is looking to spread the 12-week pilot campaign from Phoenix to other communities. Eryka Forquer, The Arizona Republic, 16 Sep. 2022 Others prefer to spread the regular thermal paste around the CPU with a flat surface, similar to buttering toast. Toby Grey, BGR, 15 Sep. 2022 Noun
Experts said that the rampant spread of the Omicron variant has driven up the number of deaths even as many others are surviving infection. Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2022 More:TikTok star Sophia Zang's Whitefish Bay house flip sold for $1,089,900 News of the listing spread quickly across the internet, as Wright fans across the country clambered to see the rare home. Genevieve Redsten, Journal Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2022 Stage 1 papillary or follicular thyroid cancer is used to describe any small tumor with no spread to the lymph nodes and no metastasis, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology website cancer.net. Stephen Simpson, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2022 Take the Mean Green on the moneyline as the spread has dropped below the key number of three. Doug Ziefel, Chicago Tribune, 17 Sep. 2022 Costumes to turn me into a spread-winged vampire bat, a king cobra, Papa Smurf. Sólveig Eva Magnúsdóttir, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022 Longini is urging the CDC alongside local health departments to improve efforts to reduce spread through widespread testing, better contact tracing, and quarantining or vaccinating all potential contacts. Caroline Catherman, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Sep. 2022 The spread of literacy in the early modern West was driven by people’s desire to read God’s word for themselves, to be empowered by an experience of unmediated connection. Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2022 As the video spread, so did demands among community members for justice for the teen boy. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2022 See More 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
Phrases Containing spread
Kids Definition
spread 1 of 2
verb
ˈspred
spread; spreading
1
: to stretch out : extend
I spread my arms wide.
2
: to pass or cause to pass from person to person
The news spread rapidly.
Flies can spread disease.
3
: to open or arrange over a larger area
The captain spread out a map.
4
: to increase in size or occurrence
The fire keeps spreading.
Cell phone use spread quickly.
5
: to scatter or be scattered
spread fertilizer
6
: to give out over a period of time or among a group
The boss spread work to make it last.
7
: to put or have a layer of on a surface
He spread butter on bread.
8
: to cover something with
Mom spread a cloth on the table.
9
: to stretch or move apart
I spread my fingers open.
10
: to prepare for a meal : set
The table was spread for dinner.
spread
2 of 2noun
1
: the act or process of increasing in size, amount, or occurrence
the spread of education
2
: the distance between two points that are farthest to each side
the spread of a bird's wings
3
: a noticeable display in a magazine or newspaper
4
: a food to be put over the surface of bread or crackers
cheese spread
5
: a very fine meal : feast
6
: a cloth cover for a table or bed
Legal Definition
spread
noun
1
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
spreading 1 of 2
adjective
as in infectious
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others spreading enthusiasm that got our club rolling again Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- infectious
- catching
- epidemic
- contagious
- tangible
- overpowering
- winning
- overwhelming
- perceptible
- inviting
- fetching
- irresistible
- palpable
- irresistable
- disarming
- endearing
- winsome
spreading
2 of 2verb
1
as in disseminating
to cause to be known over a considerable area or by many people spread the news! Synonyms & Similar Words
- disseminating
- propagating
- broadcasting
- circulating
- imparting
- transmitting
- dispensing
- diffusing
- communicating
- sprawling
- scattering
- radiating
- conveying
- dispersing
- sowing
- dissipating
- passing (on)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hiding
- concealing
- obscuring
- masking
- secreting
- holding (in)
- limiting
- restricting
- containing
- shrouding
- enshrouding
- cloaking
- veiling
2
as in applying
to put a layer of on a surface we spread the fertilizer over the lawn evenly until it was fully covered Synonyms & Similar Words
- applying
- smearing
- laying
- covering
- coating
- laying on
- plastering
- layering
- dabbing
- anointing
- daubing
- slathering
- surfacing
- overlaying
- blanketing
- besmearing
- bedaubing
- sheeting
- overlying
- overspreading
- mantling
- carpeting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- exposing
- stripping
- uncovering
- peeling
- baring
3
as in circulating
to become known once news of the war's end had spread, spontaneous celebrations broke out everywhere Synonyms & Similar Words
- circulating
- breaking
- unfolding
- telling
- developing
- revealing
- coming out
- getting out
- getting around
- spilling
- disclosing
- getting about
- outing
- getting round
- leaking (out)
- transpiring
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- suppressing
- hiding
- concealing
- masking
- disguising
- secreting
- hushing (up)
4
as in transmitting
to cause (something) to pass from one to another living conditions that help to spread chicken pox Synonyms & Similar Words
- transmitting
- giving
- propagating
- disseminating
- conveying
- communicating
- imparting
- transferring
- conducting
- delivering
- diffusing
- broadcasting
- transfusing
- infecting
- contaminating
- surrendering
- turning over
- poisoning
- handing over
- handing down
- handing on
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- catching
- contracting
- coming down (with)
5
as in dividing
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 & Similar Words
- dividing
- separating
- diverging
- parting
- retreating
- scattering
- forking
- distributing
- dispersing
- dissipating
- broadcasting
- dispelling
- sowing
- branching (out)
- disbanding
- bestrewing
- distancing
- receding
- clearing out
- breaking up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- joining
- converging
- gathering
- assembling
- meeting
6
as in increasing
to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number dissatisfaction with the new administration is spreading rapidly Synonyms & Similar Words
- increasing
- rising
- expanding
- accelerating
- swelling
- multiplying
- accumulating
- proliferating
- climbing
- intensifying
- snowballing
- enlarging
- mushrooming
- gaining
- escalating
- waxing
- ballooning
- jumping
- surging
- mounting
- booming
- burgeoning
- appreciating
- bourgeoning
- rolling up
- heightening
- skyrocketing
- building up
- rocketing
- inflating
- distending
- peaking
- redoubling
- bulking
- cresting
- crescendoing
- blowing up
- puffing (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- decreasing
- diminishing
- contracting
- lessening
- receding
- dwindling
- waning