Laxi Dictionary

English Dictionary

Define dictionary terms easily in our powerful online English dictionary.

Searching for...

No matching words found

Try a different search term or browse the dictionary

Definition spread in British English

spread verb

verb
/spred/
Example

UN leaders hope to prevent the fighting from spreading.

Example

Rain will spread from the west this evening.

Example

Anti-globalization protests spread rapidly across the globe.

Example

Within less than an hour, the fire had spread to the fuel stores.

Example

She heard a shot, then saw a dark-red stain spreading across his shirt.

Synonyms and related words
occupy set exist
1.1

if a smile or other expression spreads across or over your face, it becomes gradually bigger or more obvious

Example

He let a slow smile spread across his face.

Synonyms and related words
clear crease creep
2

if a disease spreads, or if something spreads it, it affects more people as it is passed from one person to another

Example

Cholera spread quickly through the refugee camp.

Example

Soldiers returning from the war soon spread the disease through most of the region.

Example

a computer virus that spread rapidly through users' email systems

Synonyms and related words
cause give pass on
3

to open something that is folded so that it covers a surface

Example

We spread the blanket on the grass and sat down on it.

Example

The map was spread on the floor.

Synonyms and related words
open up open try
4

to cover a surface with a thin layer of a soft food

Example

Butter spreads more easily when it hasn't been in the fridge.

Example

Maureen spread jam on her toast.

Example

First, spread the bread with mayonnaise.

Synonyms and related words
bake beat blanch
5

to divide and share work or obligations among several people

Example

We will bring in extra staff to spread the workload.

Synonyms and related words
share divide distribute
5.1

to divide an amount of money that you owe into parts and pay it in several instalments instead of all at one time

Example

You can spread your payments over two, three, or five years.

Synonyms and related words
amortise amortize clear
5.2

to make something happen at several times during a long period instead of all at once

Example

Attacks of the illness were spread over a three-year period.

Synonyms and related words
fix time schedule
5.3

if you spread a risk, you invest in several different things so that if one fails, you do not lose everything

Example

Smythe spread his financial risk by investing in a wide range of businesses.

Synonyms and related words
hedge taper have skin in the game
6

to be present in many parts of a large area

Example

There are 54 community colleges spread across California.

Example

Indonesia is a nation of over 200 million people, spread over 17,000 islands.

Synonyms and related words
spread out disperse fan out
7

to give information to many people

Example

Someone has been spreading nasty rumours about Stella's private life.

Synonyms and related words
announce disclose broadcast
7.1

if information spreads, it becomes known by more people than before

Example

News of the attack has already spread to the islands.

Synonyms and related words
come out get around leak out
8

to move your arms, legs, or hands so that they are far apart

Example

First, lie on the floor with your arms spread wide.

Synonyms and related words
reach out reach kick
8.1

to open something wide

Example

The bird spread its wings and flew away.

Synonyms and related words
open up open try
9

to cause a lot of people to have a particular feeling

Example

Smiling at people was Debra's way of spreading a little happiness.

Example

A gang of drug dealers was spreading terror in the neighbourhood.

Synonyms and related words
affect provoke inspire
10

to be involved in so many different activities or projects that your time and energy are not used efficiently

Example

Don't spread yourself too thin and try to see the whole country, but choose to visit two or three cities, and then focus your sightseeing within each city.

Definition spread in British English