Meaning of spread In English

• 0 to cover or reach a wider or increasing area, or to make something do this:

  • The fire spread very rapidly because of the strong wind.

  • It started off as cancer of the liver but it spread to other areas of the body.

  • Student artwork can't cover more than 20% of a wall because it could help spread a fire into the ceiling.

  • Discontent among junior ranks was rapidly spreading.

  • If disease is allowed to spread, it will cause widespread devastation.

  • The virus is spread through contact with blood and other body fluids.

  • They would then be free to impose their will and spread their totalitarian ideology.

  • The redundancies are spread across the banking and building industries.

  • Between 125 and 200 metric tons of plutonium are spread throughout the country at various facilities.

  • We spread the picnic rug out on the ground and sat down to eat.

  • The peacock spread out its wings.

  • To keep each grain of rice separate, spread a wet cloth over the cooked rice vessel and cover it with a plate for 10 minutes.

  • He spread his arms in a grand gesture.

  • Flex your foot and spread your toes wide.

  • She spread the papers (out ) on a big table in the conference room.

  • He spread coffee beans over a plastic sheet to dry in the sun.

  • Are you spreading gossip/rumours again?

  • He said a challenger needs campaign cash to spread the message about why an incumbent needs to be replaced.

  • The gossip spread like wildfire.

  • If we spread the work between us, it won't seem so bad.

  • I could have spread the money amongst my 15 grandkids.

  • She spread her toast with a thick layer of butter./She spread a thick layer of butter on her toast.

  • It's a special sort of butter that spreads easily even when cold.

  • The icing is nice and white and spreads well.

  • The suburbs spread (out) for miles to either side of the city.

  • Slowly a smile spread across her face.

  • As Greene's head popped up, a huge grin spread over his face.

• 1 the development or growth of something so that it covers a larger area or affects a larger number of people:

  • The spread of the disease in the last few years has been alarming.

  • The web allows the rapid spread of information.

  • The feedback system enables the spread of best practice.

• 2 the area or range covered by something:

  • The survey found a wide spread of opinion over the proposed new building.

  • Few other corporate roles require such a broad spread of knowledge and experience.

• 3 a large article or advertisement covering one or more pages in a newspaper or magazine:

  • The magazine recently ran a spread on Oregon beaches, mountains, hotels and restaurants.

  • There's a double-page spread on the latest fashions.

• 4 a soft food for putting on bread and biscuits:

  • cheese/chocolate/fish spread

  • There's bread and various spreads for tea.

• 5 a ranch or other large area of land or water

• 6 a meal, especially one for a special occasion with a lot of different dishes arranged on a table:

  • Sheila laid on (= made) a magnificent spread for us.

• 7 the difference between two amounts, such as two prices or interest rates:

  • The issue was priced at a spread of 115 basis points above Treasury bonds.

• 8 to cover or cause something to cover an object or an area:

  • [ T ] Pianist Eubie Blake could spread his fingers over 20 keys.

  • [ M ] She spread out the tablecloth.

  • [ I ] I had toast spread with strawberry jam.

  • [ I ] A strange look spread over his face.

• 9 to move from one place to another, or to cause something to move or be communicated:

  • [ I ] The flames quickly spread to the next room.

  • [ I ] Obesity is spreading in many countries.

  • [ I ] Doctors fear the cancer may spread to other organs.

  • [ T ] She’s been spreading lies about him.

  • [ T ] Neighbors have been spreading the word (= communicating information) about the proposed building project.

• 10 the process of moving to cover a larger area or to affect a larger number of people:

  • Jazz records fostered the spread of American culture.

  • More should be done to stop the spread of this disease.

• 11 A spread is a cover for a bed.

  • a cheese spread

  • This is quite a spread.

• 12 the difference between a trader’s buying price and selling price for particular shares, currencies, etc.

• 13 the difference between two interest rates :

  • a spread of sth The issue was priced at a spread of 115 basis points above Treasury bonds.

• 14 a number of different things or people:

  • If you do not need immediate access to your money, why not diversify into a wider spread of investments?

  • a geographic/demographic spread

• 15 an increase in effect or influence, so that something affects more people or places:

  • the spread of sth Corporations have a crucial influence on the global spread of a homogenized culture.

• 16 the different areas or numbers of people that are affected by something:

  • Given the size and spread of the American economy, the whole world has an economic interest in the US.

• 17 an advertisement or article in a newspaper or magazine that covers two pages that are opposite each other:

  • a double-page spread

  • a spread on sth A magazine for Japanese businesspeople recently did a spread on the resort.

• 18 to affect more people or different areas, or to make something do this:

  • In the fall of 2007, the subprime lending crisis really began to spread.

  • High oil prices can spread inflation throughout the economy if companies decide to boost the prices of many other goods and services.

  • spread through/across/around sth A recruitment crisis is currently spreading through the public sector.

  • spread to Job cuts are spreading to big manufacturers.

• 19 to share something among a group of people or things, so that no one person or thing has too much:

  • spread the costs/risks/load Include different types of income-yielding investments in your portfolio in order to spread the risk.

• 20 to cover a particular area or a number of different areas, or to make something or someone do this:

  • be spread over/throughout/across sth The company employs 2,100 people spread over five locations.

• 21 to make regular payments towards the total cost of something, usually for a period of months or years:

  • Repayments can be spread over two years.

• 22 to tell other people about something, especially something new, and say whether you think it is good or bad:

  • Satisfied customers who spread the word play a big part in establishing the reputation of a brand.