spreadn.

Brit.

/sprɛd/, U.S.

/sprɛd/

Forms: see spread v.

Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: spread v.

Etymology: < spread v. Compare earlier spreading n.With use in sense 11a compare Dutch sprei (c1600 as †sprie in this sense; already in Middle Dutch as sprey in sense ‘heap of flax spread on the ground to dry’), and also Dutch †spreeder, in same sense (1588 in Kiliaan).

I. The action, process, or fact of spreading or being spread, and other abstract senses.

†1. Probably: something undergone, an experience. Only in a bitter spread. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > hardship > a) hardship(s)

hardnesseOE

hardship?c1225

fitc1325

hardinessa1398

a bitter spreada1500

endurancea1555

endurement1605

straina1628

a hard chapter1684

a1500 (?c1450) Bone Florence (1976) l. 1841 (MED) The marynere set hur on hys bedd; Sche had soone aftur a byttur spredd.

a. The fact or process of gradually reaching a wider area or more people, or of becoming prevalent or (more) widely existent, present, known, felt, etc.; diffusion, dissemination.

(a) With the and of.

ΚΠ

1565 W. Allen Def. & Declar. Doctr. Purgatory i. Pref. f. 18^v Considering..the greate spreade of contagion that this vntrue doctryne hath wroght.

1588 S. Bredwell Rasing Found. Brownisme 112 He playeth that enuious Onans part, that abhorred the building of his brothers house, respecting more the spread of his own name.

1606 E. Forset Compar. Disc. Bodies Nat. & Politique 66 To discerne an approching euill betimes, and to stop the spread thereof before it become through continuance vncureable, is..a foresight most necessarie.

1621 S. Ward Life of Faith ix. 63 They coole the heate, and stay the spread of the infection.

1750 T. Herring in J. Duncombe Lett. Several Eminent Persons Deceased (1773) II. 271 I cannot account for the large spread of the story.

1785 W. Cowper Let. 28 Nov. (1981) II. 404 The Bishop's charge..deserves the most extensive spread.

1855 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Philip II of Spain I. ii. iii. 419 It may seem strange that the spread of the Reformed religion should so long have escaped..the Holy Office.

1891 Speaker 2 May 534/1 The growth of education and the spread of scientific training.

1928 V. G. Childe in Antiquity 2 37 The later phases of the Bronze Age are marked by the spread of large cremation cemeteries generally termed urnfields.

1964 E. Salisbury Weeds & Aliens (ed. 2) iii. 72 The history of the spread of the North American Rush..presents several features of interest.

2009 Independent 29 July (Life section) 6/3 It's used in hospitals to help stop the spread of disease.

(b) Without article.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [noun]

spreadinga1250

skeltingc1540

diffusion1585

prosemination1611

scatter1642

dissemination1646

radiation1658

dispersion1664

spread1757

distribution1860

dispersal1863

scatteration1892

spreadation1925

1757 Monthly Rev. May 471 The occasion of all the discredit Christianity has fallen under; of all its want of spread and efficacy.

1864 E. A. Parkes Man. Pract. Hygiene i. xvii. 429 The conditions of spread of [yellow fever in a ship] are probably as favourable as in the most crowded city.

1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. II. 89 The disease disregards anatomical boundaries,..the direction of spread being determined..by contiguity.

1929 Times 12 June 16/4 The prevalence and mode of spread of minor epidemics in residential schools.

1958 Nursing (St. John Ambulance Assoc.) vi. 75 Methods of spread of infection... 1. Contact. [etc.].

2013 Wall St. Jrnl. 16 July a2/4 The Yarnell fire increased in intensity and rate of spread.

b. An instance of gradually reaching a wider area or more people, or of becoming prevalent or (more) widely existent, present, known, felt, etc.

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the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [noun] > condition of being > widely, of something immaterial

latitude1612

diffusednessa1626

diffusivenessa1631

spread1644

extensiveness1656

worldwideness1890

globality1931

1644 G. Gillespie Serm. preached Mar. 27 6 Insinuating a greater encrease of the Church, and a larger spread of the Gospel, at the conversion of the Jewes.

1675 R. Burthogge Cavsa Dei 389 Of so large a spread then was the knowledge of God.

1732 D. Neal Hist. Puritans I. i. 20 The Translation of the New Testament by Tyndal..had a wonderful Spread among the People.

1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World I. 278 The period of renewed barbarity begun to have an universal spread much about the same time.

1805 R. Southey Let. 6 Apr. in C. C. Southey Life & Corr. R. Southey (1850) II. xi. 324 It would yield either to a general spread of knowledge..or to the unrestrained attacks of infidelity.

1858 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (ed. 2) III. xiii. 113 The security against a spread of the conflagration was to trample it out upon the spot.

1921 Internat. Jrnl. Ethics 31 406 There is no scientific reason forbidding..a spread of polar climatical conditions over the whole globe again.

1949 Mansfield (Ohio) News-Jrnl. 30 Dec. 4/1 As to housing, the forecast is for..a spread of prefabrication, and pre-installed household equipment.

2007 Harvard Mag. Mar. 52/1 The R_o, or average reproductive number of the SARS virus..was high enough to drive a frightening, exponential spread of the disease.

a. The process of extending, expanding, or opening out to cover or occupy a larger space; the fact of being so extended, etc.Not always clearly distinguishable from sense 4a.See also lat spread n. at lat n.⁴

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the world > space > extension in space > [noun] > spreading out > degree of

spread1579

1579 A. Munday Mirrour Mutabilitie sig. f The Ensignes spred the battels force forshowes, The horsmen they the ranks haue broke in twain.

1611 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) 679 Though the spred of our too-feeble wings, Scant rayse vs from the ground, they mount aloft Even vp to Heav'n.

1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §676 No Flower hath that kinde of Spread that the Woodbine hath.

1733 W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farming 129 Many and long Roots, which by their circular spread..are more than ordinarily capacitated to receive the fertile Benefits of the..Dung and Stale.

1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 145 These naked shoots.., more aspiring, and with ampler spread, Shall boast new charms.

1821 J. Baillie W. Wallace xxxii, in Metrical Legends 27 Broad grew his breast with ampler spread.

1843 N. P. Willis in New Mirror 11 Nov. Extra 14/1 These little arms, whose restlessness is like the spread of wings.

1905 Bulletin (Sydney) 2 Mar. 17/1 The ends overlapping the ridge are loosely held together with wooden pins, to allow their spread to conform to the roof-angle.

2001 N. Roberts Midnight Bayou (2002) 2 The owl swooped from its perch with a swift spread of wings.

b. Tendency to spread or go apart; capacity for spreading or extending.

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the world > space > extension in space > [noun] > spreading out > capacity for or tendency to

spread1772

1772 C. Hutton Princ. Bridges 53 The thickness of the piers necessary to resist the spread or shoot of any given arch.

1839 J. Millington Elem. Civil Engin. x. 585 So soon as the centring is removed the lateral spread of the arch will come into play.

1885 C. T. Davis Manuf. Leather 558 Skins dressed by this process,..it is claimed, are made soft, pliable, and with elasticity or spread.

1921 Builder's Jrnl. Feb. 44/1 Brick for arches will usually have to be cut or ground to shape... This is not necessary for the ordinary rowlock arch as the spread of the arch is taken up in the thickness of the joint.

1996 C. Melbourne & L. Weekes in J. E. Harding et al. Bridge Managem. III. 260 The ground beams played an active role in restraining the spread of the abutments.

c. colloquial. The process of accumulating fat around the abdomen, the development of paunchiness. Originally and chiefly in middle-aged spread: see middle-aged adj. 1b. Cf. sense 17.

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the world > life > the body > bodily shape or physique > broad shape or physique > [noun] > fat or plump shape or physique

pumpkin1680

roundabout1809

middle-aged spread1883

spread1883

1883 Nat. Temperance Mirror Aug. 187/1 What my irrepressible cousin Bob coarsely terms ‘the middle aged spread’, has only not begun because I am one of the lean kine and incline to scragginess rather than to Rubenesque fleshiness.

1980 D. Norden in F. Muir & D. Norden Oh, my Word! 31 The spread has come upon me! Overweight has arrived!

a. The degree or extent to which something extends, expands, or opens out to cover or occupy a larger space; the extent, expanse, or superficial area of something.Cf. senses 10a, 10b.

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the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > [noun] > a) dimension(s) > property of having two dimensions > surface extent or area

superficialty?a1425

area?a1560

capacity?a1560

superficies1571

content1576

spread1584

continenta1608

containdure1623

surfacea1640

superficiality1690

1584 Counter-poyson 38 As for the number of 7. who is so simple, as not to knowe that the number is to be varied, according to the spreade and greatnesse of the Churches where they are.

1680 E. Tyson Phocaena 15 The breadth 24. the distance between them 42. the spread of the Tayle 100.

a1701 H. Maundrell Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) 140 I measur'd one of the largest [trees], and found it..thirty seven yards in the spread of its boughs.

1733 W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farming 119 Raise a Border six or twelve Inches high, according to the spread thereof.

1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxiii. 242 He knew..the spread of every sail..in feet and inches.

1865 J. Cameron Malayan India 171 The trees being of one age are of a uniform height, thickness of trunk, and spread of top.

1907 H. Storey Hunting & Shooting in Ceylon xiv. 232 A fine head of horns which..the steel tape gave as 29 inches, with a grand spread.

1922 Pract. Engineer 17 Aug. 109/1 Suppose it is desired to determine what the spread of a foundation should be, assuming the weight of the engine as 24 tons.

1978 H. M. Rosenberg Solid State (ed. 2) ii. 21 The diffracted beam therefore has a finite angular breadth, or spread.

2008 K. Coyne & E. Knutzen Urban Homestead 76 Make an irrigation basin by forming a little wall of soil in a circle all around the base of the plant, making the circle about the same diameter as the spread of its branches.

b. The distance between the tips of the outstretched wings of a bird or aircraft, or between the fingertips of outstretched arms. Cf. span n.¹ 5d.

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the world > animals > birds > parts of or bird defined by > [noun] > wing or wings > expanse or extent of wings ( and tail)

clewa1618

sail1759

spread1794

1794 J. Aikin & A. L. Barbauld Evenings at Home IV. 105 They are of a great length and spread of wing.

1894 To-Day 2 171/2 The wings have a spread of twenty yards square.

1909 A. Berget Conquest of Air 188 The spread of the wings is 10·20 metres.

1945 Fortune Mar. 19/2 (advt.) Finally, there's the spread of those long, gull-wings [of Mariner aircraft].

1979 D. Attenborough Life on Earth xii. 285 A male [orang utan] may stand over 1½ metres tall, have arms with a spread of 2½ metres and weigh a massive 200 kilos.

1987 J. Strong Tabernacle of Israel ii. 80 It appears that the spread of a cherub's wings was reckoned as equal to the whole height of the figure.

2001 J. Ferguson-Lees & D. A. Christie Raptors of World 32 The real spans..should be 89–122 cm and 105–131 cm respectively, with the spread of the very largest females equivalent to 4 feet and 4.3 feet.

c. The width of a gemstone considered in proportion to its depth; the width or the surface of the girdle of a brilliant; the width of a perfectly proportioned brilliant of a given weight. Cf. spread adj. 3 and spread brilliant n. at spread adj. Compounds 2.

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society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > gem or precious stone > diamond > [noun] > of specific type of cut > width in proportion to depth

spread1813

1813 J. Mawe Treat. Diamonds i. 47 The artist has..to examine carefully, in what direction the stone may be cut, so as to afford the greatest breadth, or spread as it is technically termed, after the flaws, if any, shall have been taken out.

1898 T. Powell Illustr. Home Bk. World's Great Nations 428/1 The rose diamond is the shape given to those stones, the spread of which is too great in proportion to their depth to admit of their being brilliant cut.

1930 W. R. Cattelle Precious Stones 62 Since the trade have found how important it is to have a proper ‘spread’ to the stone..there has been a tendency to demand stones too shallow for the best results.

2011 A. L. Matlins Diamonds (ed. 3) x. 121 If the weight is much greater than the diamond weight should be, based on its spread, then it is not a diamond.

†d. U.S. Mechanics. The distance between the centres of parallel cylinders on a steam locomotive. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1885 Amer. Machinist 31 Oct. 4/4 A cross-section drawing was called for to give the spread of the cylinders, to ascertain if they would pass through the tunnel.

1916 Jrnl. Amer. Soc. Mech. Engineers Feb. 133/2 In that way the long overhang of the main pin which results from the wide spread of cylinders would be overcome.

5. U.S. Billiards. A rebound of a cue ball from the object ball at a considerable angle from its former course; a stroke effecting this.

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society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > billiards, pool, or snooker > [noun] > motion of ball

kiss1836

spread1838

screw back1869

retrograde1896

topside1904

1838 Bentley's Misc. Dec. 552 His spread is the most magnificent thing I have ever seen, and his straight-hazards are..marvellous.

1858 M. Phelan Game of Billiards (ed. 3) 102 To effect a ‘spread’ it is not necessary to hit the object-ball so far off from the centre as would appear at the first glance.

1885 Davenport (Iowa) Daily Gaz. 21 Nov. 1/5 Vignaux made a terrible draw, nearly the whole length of the table, for an opening shot in his fourth inning and stopped at 32 on an easy spread.

1913 M. Daly Daly's Billiard Bk. iii. 46 Try the same plan for the dead follow and the dead ‘spread’ (wide angle carom).

1999 M. I. Shamos New Illustr. Encycl. Billiards 78/2 Dead spread, a dead ball shot in which the cue ball caroms off the first object ball at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

6. U.S. Stock Market. A contract combining the option of buying shares of stock within a specified time, at a specified price above that prevailing when the contract is signed, and the option of selling shares of the same stock within the same time, at a specified price below that prevailing when the contract is signed. Cf. spread eagle n. 7a, straddle n. 2a.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > [noun] > specific operations or arrangements > contract combining options within specific time

spread eagle1870

spread1878

straddle1883

1878 Washington Post 30 May 3/2 The cheap rates at which puts, straddles and spreads can be bought on all the active stocks is also a source of strength to the market.

1885 Harper's Mag. Nov. 844/1 A ‘straddle’..differs from the ‘spread’ in that the market price at the time of purchase is filled into the latter.

1900 S. A. Nelson ABC of Wall St. 160 Spread. This is a double stock privilege which entitles the holder to the right to deliver or demand a certain amount of stock on specified terms, or grain price differences between different options, or between the same option in different cities, or between the put and call price.

1957 D. T. Clark & B. A. Gottfried Univ. Dict. Business & Finance 332/1 If a stock is selling at 100, a speculator may buy a spread option for $5 per share, with a spread in the buying and selling prices of 5 points up or down. Thus, if the stock later goes below 90 (including the 5 point spread and the 5 point cost of the option), it can be sold at a profit.

1970 H. S. Sloan & A. J. Zurcher Dict. Econ. (ed. 5) 412 Spread, as applied to security trading, two separate options, a put..specifying a price below the prevailing market, and a call..specifying a price above the prevailing market, both options applying to the same security and expiring on the same date.

2003 BusinessWeek 21 July 19 (advt.) Wide-return spreads or fat tails on stocks have already burned out.

a. Statistics. The extent of variation, relative to an average value, that is exhibited by the values of a data set.The spread of a given data set is frequently measured using the standard deviation, variance, or interquartile range.

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the world > relative properties > number > probability or statistics > [noun] > distribution > variability or spread

spread1896

scatter1921

1896 Jrnl. Royal Statist. Soc. 59 393 They measure the spread of each series by means of the difference between the 2nd and 8th deciles.

1927 School Rev. 35 783 If the spread or dispersion is measured by the standard deviation instead of by the range, the same general effect of a smaller spread is observed.

1974 Listener 7 Nov. 595/2 Now there is a more even spread of intelligence and the skew in the graph is at both ends.

2014 P. Kenny Better Business Decisions from Data vii. 70 Some indication of the spread of the data should accompany any quoted average.

b. Economics. The difference between two rates or prices. Cf. sense 6.

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society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > [noun] > price difference

spread1900

1900 Ann. Amer. Acad. Polit. & Social Sci. 16 133 In all other markets there is a ‘spread’ between the reserve prices on each side, within which superior strength or skill can force one or the other side down to a minimum gain.

1919 A. C. Whitaker Foreign Exchange xii. 369 The spread between the local and the foreign money rates.

1928 Britain's Industr. Future (Liberal Industr. Inq.) iv. xxiv. §7.331 The Linlithgow Committee..came to the conclusion that ‘the spread between the producer's and the consumer's prices is unjustifiably wide’.

1978 N.Y. Times 29 Mar. b2/1 But adding to the rise in farm beef prices is the widening spread between what a cattle raiser gets for a steer and what a roast costs in the supermarket.

2007 N.Y. Mag. 5 Nov. 45/1 Structured investment vehicles (SIVs), a nifty bit of financial engineering that banks use to profit from the spread between short-term debt and long-term debt.

c. Sport (originally and chiefly North American). The difference between the number of points, goals, etc., scored by competing teams in a match, esp. a winning margin; the point spread or goal difference in a match. Also: Betting the forecast or expectation of such a difference. Cf. point spread n. at point n.¹ Compounds 2.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > betting > [noun] > forecast of margin of victory

spread1944

society > leisure > sport > winning, losing, or scoring > [noun] > gaining points > score > winning margin

spread1968

1944 Washington Post 1 Dec. 14/1 The bookies get what they call the ‘2-point spread’, insuring themselves against loss if they balance their books.

1951 Chicago Daily News 17 Jan. 34/3 The former player said he would not know until before the game what the final betting ‘spread’—the difference in the point score—would be.

1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 17 Feb. 39/7 If Canada ties Russians, Swedes beat Czechs—Russia wins gold on goal spread, Canada takes silver... Russia has the best spread—33.

1980 Washington Star 20 Nov. c7 Eagles and Falcons (both 9-2), continue to share the NFL's best record at beating the spreads.

1988 Ice Hockey News Rev. 19 Nov. (Suppl.) 3/1 The brilliant Czech did it again..with a marker which opened up a 2 goal spread in Flyers favour.

1999 Odds On Feb. 11/1 England for the Grand Slam and Scotland to be whitewashed is the verdict, but the early prices suggest little value in either. The value at the moment—on the spreads anyway—look to be Wales at 22–25. Worth a buy.

8. A range, variety, or array of things.For slightly earlier specific use see sense 19.

ΚΠ

1939 E. Rath Folk Dance in Educ. v. 17 Finding a spread of choices [of folk dances]..ranging over seven and eight grades.

1973 Science 21 Sept. 1144/1 The actual situation lies somewhere between..two extremes: some..probability must be assigned to a spread of possible answers.

1987 L. Sanneh in J. S. Hawley Saints & Virtues 132 Bits and pieces of information, picked up from a disparate spread of sources, are strung together.

1990 Atlantic Apr. 30/3 Belgians commonly receive twenty-six TV channels, broadcast in a spread of languages.

2012 Campaign 18 May 29 With such a fantastic and eclectic spread, the chances are that some of the answers you're looking for are in here somewhere.

II. Something that spreads or is spread, and other concrete senses.

†9. Probably: a long oar or sweep. Obsolete. rare.

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society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > rowing apparatus > [noun] > oar > long or large oar

swape1592

spread1698

sweep1801

1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 26 These Boats are as large as one of our Ware-Barges,..but padling with Paddles instead of Spreads.

10.

a. An expanse or stretch of something.In quot. 1747 a spread-out layer or stream.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > [noun] > spreading out > an expanse of something

spacea1382

widenessa1382

continuance1398

field1547

sheet1593

universe1598

main1609

reach1610

expansion1611

extent1627

champaign1656

fetch1662

mass1662

expanse1667

spread1712

run1719

width1733

acre1759

sweep1767

contiguity1785

extension1786

stretch1829

breadths1839

outspread1847

outstretch1858

1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 549. ⁋3 I have got a fine Spread of improveable Lands.

1746 J. Hervey Refl. Flower-garden 26 in Medit. among Tombs Nearer the Houses one perceives a spacious Spread of Branches.

1747 Gentleman's Mag. July 311/2 Which made the corn run in a thin even spread under it.

1824 Examiner 71/2 A dark spread of calm water.

1840 G. Barret Theory & Pract. Water Colour Painting 104 The sky at this time of the afternoon frequently exhibits a tender spread of yellow.

1880 R. D. Blackmore Mary Anerley II. 63 He struck into the gill from a trackless spread of moor.

1883 R. L. Stevenson Silverado Squatters 254 Under the immense spread of the starry heavens.

1915 J. Buchan Salute to Adventurers xx. 283 He..carried a spread of branching antlers like a forest tree.

1973 W. Soyinka Season of Anomy vi. 88 A quick warning from the old man saved Ofeyi from slithering down the sudden moss-covered slope into a spread of water.

1988 M. Moorcock Mother London iv. 267 I'd like to enjoy some spreads of flowers, not these rogue patches.

2008 Weekend Austral. (Nexis) 9 Aug. (Features section) 11 The property sits amid a spread of woodlands in a picturesque valley near the small town of Les Eyzies.

b. Sailing. An expanse or display of sails.See also sail-spread n. at sail n.¹ Compounds 1a.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > masts, rigging, or sails > sail > [noun] > amount of sail set

spread1798

1798 Sporting Mag. July 180/1 In drifting down before the wind, the great spread of canvas carried by the Nymph helped her much.

1824 Trans. Soc. Arts 42 p. xxviii The supposed advantages of this plan are, the capability of employing with safety a greater spread of sail than usual, and drifting less to leeward.

1850 G. Cupples Green Hand iii. 35/2 The whol spread of her mizen and main canvas shining like gold cloth against the fore.

1889 J. J. Welch Text Bk. Naval Archit. ii. 40 A mastless ship requires less stability than one carrying a large spread of canvas.

1906 Sci. Amer. 6 Oct. 250/2 To stay and hold up to its work the towering spread of canvas on this mast alone calls for no less than thirty shrouds and backstays.

2008 E. Rarick Desperate Passage iii. 182 Woodworth..set a spread of sail, and coasted upriver toward the mountains.

c. Geology. A broad, relatively thin sedimentary or alluvial deposit.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > structure of the earth > structural features > thin layer > [noun]

flake1577

lamina1794

stratulum1797

sheet1815

sheeting1891

spread1893

1893 Jrnl. Anthropol. Inst. 22 69 The trails of gravel not referrable to river action in subsidiary valleys, ending at their junction with the main valley in a fan-shaped spread of gravel and brick earth.

1924 Proc. Royal Irish Acad. 1921–4 B. 36 271 The whole of Colebrooke Park..is underlain by spreads of morainic and outwash gravel.

1956 A. L. Armstrong in D. L. Linton Sheffield vi. 90 It is from these beds that the sands and gravels of the lower terraces and valley spreads were mainly derived.

1977 Antiquaries Jrnl. 57 187 Some sarsens..could be derived from chalk or Greensand as could the soliflucted spread in the Vale of Pewsey.

2011 A. S. Goudie Nature of Environment (ed. 4) v. 182/2 The presence of great spreads of angular debris..lends support to this idea.

d. Originally and chiefly U.S. A ranch, esp. one for raising cattle; a large farm.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping of cattle > [noun] > cattle farm

estantion1697

estancia1704

rancho1820

ranchito1829

ranch1831

ganaderia1860

spread1927

1927 W. R. James Cow Country 67 He'd paid a big price for the said spread, and he was lord and master there sure enough.

1947 Trail Riders Bull. Feb. 20/1 I wuz top bronc buster for the Tumblin' L spread.

1966 G. Durrell Two in Bush vi. 186 Harry..took us out to a ‘spread’ not far from Canberra (a tiny little smallholding of some 200,000 acres).

1981 J. Beeching Death of Terrorist iii. 34 He thought of his ranch up in Texas. ‘Not a big spread,’ he said modestly.

2011 D. Maysilles Ducktown Smoke Introd. 3 A septuagenarian farmer with a little spread in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Fannin County, Georgia.

11.

a. A top cover for a bed; = bedspread n. Also: a light rug or throw.Chiefly U.S. in early use.

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > household linen > bedclothes > [noun] > outer cover

coverture?c1225

chalon1301

coverlet1382

coverlida1400

quiltpointc1400

pane1405

counterpointa1475

liggera1483

happing1503

counterpane1626

palampore1676

spread1750

duvet1759

mata1894

suggan1907

eiderdown1950

1750 W. Ellis Country Housewife's Family Compan. ii. 262 The Maid-servants, whenever they suspected any had lain in a Bed that had the Itch, would always in the first Place lay the Sheets open upon the spread, for an Hour, to air and cool.

1837 C. Gilman Recoll. Southern Matron in Southern Rose 18 Feb. 97/2 The bed curtains and spreads were mostly patterns of gorgeous birds and trees.

1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin (U.K. ed.) xx [She would] flourish the sheets and spreads all over the apartment.

1888 Pall Mall Gaz. 1 Nov. 3/2 Each bed..was provided with a feather tick; but the night being warm these spreads were thrown off.

1914 S. Graham With Poor Immigrants to Amer. xiii. 236 As I lay on my spread on the sand,..I saw the sun come sailing through the smoke like a red balloon.

1934 ‘N. West’ Cool Million viii. 61 Betty was exhausted, and immediately fell asleep on the poster bed with its candlewick spread.

1978 Lancs. Life Oct. 141/2 (caption) Serenade blinds..have been designed to co-ordinate with the Nocturne quilt cover..and Cantata curtains and spreads.

2012 C. H. Clark Gypped 42 They take off the spread and fold it,..and turn on the clock radio set to a station that plays Mozart.

†b. slang. A shawl. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for head or neck or body > [noun] > shawl

toilet1664

shawl1767

wrapper1838

Paisley1849

spread1857

throw1887

1857 ‘Ducange Anglicus’ Vulgar Tongue 20 Spread, a shawl.

1859 J. C. Hotten Dict. Slang 99 Spread, a lady's shawl.

1865 Leaves from Diary Celebrated Burglar 8/2 In the confusion a ‘tog’ or ‘spread’ is sure to change owners.

†12. The point at which something spreads. Obsolete. rare.

ΚΠ

1778 J. Abercrombie Universal Gardener & Botanist at Pruning Never..trim the stem much higher than the full spread of the head.

1896 Westm. Gaz. 25 July 3/1 A beautiful old orchard is full [of mud] to the spread of the trees' branches.

13.

†a. slang. Butter. Cf. earlier spreader n. 4. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > dairy produce > butter > [noun]

butterOE

cow-butterc1000

spreader1610

spread1811

dairy butter1874

flab1923

1811 Lexicon Balatronicum Spread, butter.

1859 G. W. Matsell Vocabulum 84 The cove pinched a keeler of spread, and was pulled foul.

1864 J. C. Hotten Slang Dict. (new ed.) Spread, butter. A term with workmen and schoolboys.

b. Originally U.S. Any soft substance suitable for spreading on bread or other food, such as paste or jam, or (now) a substitute for butter.See also cheese spread n. at cheese n.¹ Compounds 2.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > additive > relish > [noun] > spread

paste1817

spread1866

fish paste1920

cheese spread1921

sandwich spreadc1938

Marmite1966

1866 Hours at Home Oct. 507/2 He went to a farm-house one day and demanded some ‘spread’, as they call marmalade in that matter-of-fact country.

1886 F. R. Stockton Casting away Mrs. Lecks & Mrs. Aleshine 40 There was some sort of jam left at the bottom, so that the one who gets the last biscuit will have somethin' of a little spread on it.

1918 Dial. Notes 5 121 Spread, jam or sauce that can be spread on bread, etc. ‘Put some spread on for me.’ Pa.

c1938 Fortnum & Mason Price List 37/2 Sandwich Spread—per glass 10½d.

1951 Butter, Cheese & Milk Products Jrnl. Mar. 33/1 Is a low fat, low cost dairy spread the answer to the problems of the butter industry? Several butter manufacturers have expressed the belief that a low fat spread which could compete with margarine on a price basis would open new sales outlets for butterfat.

1962 M. Duffy That's how it Was xiii. 107 I had to..mix up some chocolate spread from cocoa, sugar and a little milk.

1972 Daily Tel. 11 Nov. 2/7 There were increases of 3·41 per cent in the prices of jams, honey, and spreads.

1987 E. Ronay Bird's Eye Guide Healthy Eating Out 141 Low-fat spread is available on request.

2014 Times (Nexis) 15 Nov. (Features section) 8 Rowse's honey was declared the most popular breakfast spread.

14. colloquial. A banquet, a feast, a meal, now esp. a lavish one laid out on a table. Cf. earlier spreadation n. N.E.D. (1914) noted: ‘Common from about 1825.’

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > meal > feast > [noun]

farmeOE

feasta1200

gesteningc1200

mangerc1390

mangerya1400

junkerya1425

banquet1483

convive1483

gestonyea1500

junketa1500

festine1520

Maundy1533

junketing1577

entertainmenta1616

entertain1620

regalo1622

treatmenta1656

treat1659

regale1670

regality1672

festino1741

spreadation1780

spread1822

blowout1823

tuck-out1823

burst1849

1822 Gentleman's Mag. Jan. 31 Spreads on the grass for the better sort of people.

1824 Gradus ad Cantabrigiam (new ed.) 129 He sits down to a most glorious spread, ordered from the college cook, to be served up in the most swell style possible.

1844 J. T. J. Hewlett Parsons & Widows I. vi. 141 I gave very correct feeds—spreads we used to call them.

1893 H. Vizetelly Glances Back I. xv. 300 He..was a constant attendant at these little spreads.

1913 W. Stevens Let. 7 July (1967) 179 A spread of chicken salad,..watermelon, iced-tea etc.

1979 J. Gardner Nostradamus Traitor xxxv. 165 The womenfolk prepared a great spread of food... ‘Enough food to feed the whole of a Sonderkommando.’

2003 M. Belson On the Press ii. 81 At Nuneham there was a tremendous spread for dinner, with plenty of lemonade made in a tub.

15. Journalism (originally U.S.).

†a. A newspaper. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > journalism > journal > newspaper > [noun]

intelligencer1598

courant1621

coranto1624

paper1642

mercury1643

newsletter1665

newspaper1667

slip1688

raga1734

news1738

gazetteer1742

sheet1754

news sheet1841

spread1848

linen-draper1857

newsprint1897

blat1932

linen1955

mimeo newspaper1973

1848 Ladies' Repository Oct. 317/1 Flash Language... Spread, A newspaper.

b. An article or advertisement displayed prominently in a newspaper or periodical; spec. printed matter occupying two facing pages. Also figurative: a prominent broadcast item.centre spread, double spread, photo spread, etc.: see the first element.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > printing > printed matter > arrangement or appearance of printed matter > [noun] > printed matter on two facing pages

spread1877

society > communication > journalism > journal > matter of or for journals > [noun] > article > feature

feature1855

spread1877

1877 Harper's Mag. Dec. 50/1 His remarkable ability is best seen when occasion arises for a ‘spread’.

1931 Week-End Rev. 7 Nov. 563/2 The inclusion of a four-page ‘spread’, printed in two colours.

1956 H. Kurnitz Invasion of Privacy xviii. 117 The afternoon papers, and the late radio broadcasts..had given the Morley case a big spread.

1969 ‘A. Glyn’ Dragon Variation viii. 238 You'll give the match a good spread in your papers, won't you, Paul?

2007 Independent on Sunday 13 May (Review Suppl.) 3/2 I had a five-page spread in The Independent.

16. Biology. A specimen or sample prepared for microscopic examination by spreading it on a slide; a smear (smear n. 3b); spec. a squash (squash n.¹ 6b).

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > biology > laboratory analysis > material > [noun] > sample

spread1895

smear1903

squash1942

sonicate1955

stabilate1965

1895 Amer. Jrnl. Med. Sci. 109 65 The spreads should then be stained with Loeffler's alkaline methylene-blue.

1911 Colorado Med. 8 272/2 I consider the slide method for making blood spreads the best.

1963 Stain Technol. 38 284 Heteroploidy was not observed in any of the spreads, unlike those observed in long term cultures of rabbit endothelial cells.

1978 Nature 23 Mar. 325/1 Figure 2 shows the distribution of silver grains in autoradiograms of human metaphase chromosome spreads.

2004 G. Majno & I. Joris Cells, Tissues, & Dis. (ed. 2) iv. 170/2 One or more of the spreads will be perfect, with all the chromosomes separated.

17. colloquial. An accumulation of fat around the abdomen. Originally and chiefly in middle-aged spread: see middle-aged adj. 1b. Cf. sense 3c (earlier).

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > bodily substance > fat > [noun] > round waist

spread1911

spare tyre1961

tyre1968

love handle1970

muffin top2003

1911 H. L. Stuart Fenella i. ii. 10 Her homely English figure had what a flippant mind has described as a ‘middle-aged spread’ in its proportions.

1930 Field 29 Nov. 775/2 An older woman..middle-aged, with, possibly, a ‘spread’.

2008 Guardian (Nexis) 17 June 33 Desailly, now moving into middle age with a spread to go with it.

18. Bridge. A hand that can manifestly win all of the remaining tricks. Cf. spread v. 15.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > bridge > [noun] > types of hand

rock-crusher1859

chicane1900

yarborough1900

suiter1909

two-suiter1923

spread1929

swing hand1960

1929 M. C. Work Compl. Contract Bridge 245 Spread, a hand which Declarer can show in proof of his ability to win all thirteen tricks.

1964 R. L. Frey & A. F. Truscott Official Encycl. Bridge 339/2 Seven no trump was a spread.

1977 Field 13 Jan. 65/1 Only the duplication of values prevented the contract from being a spread.

1991 G. Thompson et al. Bridge Player's Dict. 107 Spread,..3. A term for an unbeatable contract as in ‘Four spades was a spread’.

19. Geology. An array of seismometers, spec. one used to record data from a shot in a geophysical survey.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > earth sciences > geology > geophysics > [noun] > seismological apparatus > array

spread1936

1936 Bull. Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists 20 638 Optimum geophone spreads for reflection surveys.

1945 Geophysics 10 351 To correct for these weathering variations a series of short refraction shots was taken at each recording spread.

1962 Jrnl. Geophysical Res. 67 2852/2 The method used was to keep the geophone spread fixed and to move the shot away from the spread.

1977 A. Hallam Planet Earth 29/1 Large spreads of seismometers have recently been set up, one of the largest being in Norway.

2011 D. G. Price et al. Engin. Geol. vi. 190 Horizontal resolution depends upon the closeness of the spacing of the geophones in the seismic spread.

20. Oil Industry. The total assemblage of men and equipment needed for a particular job, esp. laying a pipeline.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > oil and natural gas recovery equipment > [noun] > total equipment for a job

spread1953

1953 Portsmouth (Ohio) Times 16 Dec. 5/2 Fourteen ‘pipeline spreads’ (construction crews) each made up of about 240 men, are laying pipe at the rate of two-tenths of a mile..a day.

1956 Financial Times 15 June 9/2 The construction of the line from Alberta to Winnipeg will be divided into six or seven ‘spreads’ which can proceed simultaneously.

1975 North Sea Background Notes (Brit. Petroleum Co.) 32 The land line was laid in three spreads, two working between the Tay and Cruden Bay and the third from the Tay to Grangemouth.

2012 Daily Oklahoman (Nexis) 11 Jan. Construction of the 1,600-mile pipeline could be broken down into 17 U.S. pipeline spreads, each with 500 workers.

21. U.S. slang. A type of truck trailer with widely spaced axles. rare.See also Ohio spread n. at Ohio n. 3.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > motor lorry, truck, or van > [noun] > truck or lorry > articulated lorry > trailer or types of trailer

pole trailer1919

semi-trailer1919

pantech1942

Queen Mary1942

semi1942

tautliner1970

Ohio spread1971

spread1971

tri-axle1971

semi-truck1975

1971 M. Tak Truck Talk 153 Spread, a trailer with a separation greater than four feet between the two rear axles of a tandem trailer.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

spreadv.

Brit.

/sprɛd/, U.S.

/sprɛd/

Inflections: Past tense and past participle spread;

Forms: 1.

α. early Middle English spert (3rd singular present indicative, perhaps transmission error), Middle English spret (3rd singular present indicative), Middle English–1600s spred, Middle English–1600s spredd, Middle English–1600s spredde, 1500s spredden (archaic).

β. early Middle English spradit (3rd singular present indicative), Middle English sparth (3rd singular present indicative, probably transmission error), Middle English sprad, Middle English spradde, Middle English sprat (3rd singular present indicative), Middle English spratt (3rd singular present indicative), 1800s sprade (English regional (north-west midlands)); Scottish pre-1700 spraid.

γ. early Middle English spræde (south-west midlands), early Middle English spreat (south-west midlands, 3rd singular present indicative), Middle English spredreþ (3rd singular present indicative, transmission error), Middle English spreyde, Middle English spriede, Middle English–1600s spreade, Middle English–1600s sprede, Middle English–1600s spreede, late Middle English spreteþ (3rd singular present indicative), 1500s–1600s spreed, 1500s– spread; English regional (northern and midlands) 1800s spreath (Yorkshire), 1800s sprede, 1800s spreead, 1800s spreeod (Lancashire), 1800s spreeth (Yorkshire), 1800s spreid, 1800s–1900s spreed; Scottish pre-1700 spreade, pre-1700 sprede, pre-1700 1700s– spread, pre-1700 1800s– spreid, pre-1700 1900s– spreed, 1800s spried.

2. Past tense.

α. Middle English sperat (probably transmission error), Middle English spraid, Middle English sprat (perhaps transmission error), Middle English–1600s spradde, late Middle English spradden (transmission error), 1800s spraad (English regional (Yorkshire)), 1800s spraod (English regional (Yorkshire)), 1800s sprod (English regional (north-west midlands) and Irish English), Middle English–1500s (1800s English regional (Yorkshire)) sprade, Middle English–1600s (1800s English regional and archaic) sprad.

β. Middle English spreadde, Middle English–1500s sprede, Middle English–1600s spredd, Middle English–1600s spredde, late Middle English sperde (transmission error), 1500s spreed, 1500s–1600s spreade, 1500s– spread, Middle English–1600s (1800s English regional) spred; Scottish pre-1700 spreid, pre-1700 1700s– spread, 1800s spried.

γ. Middle English spredede, Middle English spredyd, Middle English 1600s spreded, 1500s spreaded, 1800s spreead (English regional (Lancashire)), 1800s spreeded (English regional (Yorkshire)), 1800s spreidit (Scottish).

3. Past participle.

α. Middle English espred, Middle English hispred, Middle English ispred, Middle English ispredde, Middle English sperd (perhaps transmission error), Middle English sprid (northern), Middle English–1500s yspred, Middle English–1600s spredd, Middle English–1600s spredde, Middle English–1600s sprede, Middle English 1600s spreede, Middle English–1600s (1800s–1900s English regional) spreed, 1500s spreadde, 1500s–1600s spreade, 1500s– spread, 1600s yspread (archaic), Middle English–1700s (1800s English regional) spred; Scottish pre-1700 spred, pre-1700 spredde, pre-1700 sprede, pre-1700 1700s spreid, 1700s 1700s– spread, 1900s– spreed.

β. Middle English isprad, Middle English spradd, Middle English sprarde (transmission error), Middle English sprat, Middle English ysprad, Middle English yspradde, Middle English ysprade, Middle English–1600s spradde, 1500s isprode, 1500s spraid (Scottish), Middle English–1600s (1800s English regional and archaic) sprad.

γ. late Middle English spraden, late Middle English– spredden (now archaic), 1500s–1700s (1800s– nonstandard) spreaden, 1800s spreeden (English regional), 1800s spreiden (Scottish), 1800s spridden (English regional), 1800s–1900s sprodden (English regional (northern and north midlands)).

δ. 1500s spredded, 1500s– spreaded (now nonstandard), 1800s spreeded (English regional (Yorkshire)).

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: Cognate with West Frisian spriede , spriedzje , North Frisian spriad , spreer , Middle Dutch spreden , spreeden , spreiden , spreyen (Dutch spreiden , spreien ), Middle Low German sprēden , spreiden , Old High German spreiten (Middle High German spreiten , German spreiten ), and also ( < Middle Low German) Old Swedish spridha (Swedish sprida ), Old Danish sprede (Danish sprede ) < a Germanic base of uncertain origin. In Old English only prefixed forms of the verb are attested, compare (Northumbrian) gesprǣda to extend (compare y- prefix and quot. OE at sense 4b(a)), and also asprǣdan to extend (compare a- prefix¹), ofersprǣdan overspread v., tōsprǣdan to-spread v.; earlier currency of the unprefixed form is implied by the verbal noun sprǣdung spreading n. (one isolated attestation in Northumbrian: see quot. OE at sense 1). Compare spreaden adj., spreading n.Past participle γ. forms are by analogy with strong verbs with past participles in -en (see -en suffix⁶). The past participle sprodden at γ. forms may reflect analogy with trodden, past participle of tread v.

Examples that are ambiguous between the passive and the stative adjectival use are treated here: see especially senses 12b, 11, 2d, 2e, 4e(b).

†I. To cause to increase; to beget.

1. transitive. To cause to increase or multiply; to beget. Obsolete.In view of the paucity of early evidence it is difficult to be certain whether this sense represents continuity of usage or, in later use, extension of meaning from other senses.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > multiply or reproduce [verb (transitive)] > cause to

spreadOE

OE (Northumbrian) [implied in: Liturgical Texts (Durham Ritual) in A. H. Thompson & U. Lindelöf Rituale Ecclesiae Dunelmensis (1927) 109 Institutis tuis quibus propagationem humani generis ordinasti benignus adsiste : settnissvm ðinum ðæm sprædung..mennisces cynnes giendebredades uelrumlice tostond. (at spreading n. 3)].

c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) lxxix. 12 (MED) Þe kinde of Iacob sprad his childer vn-to þe see.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 10684 It was boden in þair ledd, Wit mariage þe folk to sprede.

1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde iii. x. f. 142^v Leauynge their natiue soyle, they haue spredde their generation so farre lyke a pestiferous contagion.

1624 T. Heywood Γυναικεῖον i. 49 Young Epaphus..To Phaeton objects that he was bred Of mortal straine, and not divinelie spred.

II. Senses with main emphasis on opening out or extending something.

a. To open out (something) so as to extend its surface area, width, or length; to stretch or draw out (a cloth, etc.) so as to display it more or less fully; to lay out so as to cover or occupy some space.

(a) transitive. With prepositional phrase indicating general location, or (less commonly) without construction.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > extend [verb (transitive)] > spread (something) out or open

abredeeOE

bredeOE

stretcha1000

to-spreada1000

openOE

spreadc1175

displayc1320

to let outc1380

to open outc1384

outspreada1400

spald?a1400

splayc1402

expand?a1475

to lay along1483

speld?a1500

skail1513

to set abroad1526

to lay abroad1530

flarec1550

bespread1557

to set out1573

dispread1590

explaina1600

expanse1600

dispack1605

splat1615

dispand1656

extend1676

flat1709

spelder1710

spreadeagle1829

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 1015 Witt tu þatt an waȝhe rifft Wass spredd fra wah to waȝhe.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 610 Seoððen he nam þe hude..of þare hinde. Bi-foren þan wefede he heo spradde.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 37 (MED) No þing schulde be sprad vnder [L. substernere] hem whan þey schulde slepe.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 61 But þe Romayns wyfes..wente wiþ hir heer i-sprad.

?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 117 Almerle his banere sprad, & oþer barons mo.

c1400 Life St. Alexius (Trin. Oxf.) (1878) l. 460 (MED) Þat writ anon he gan sprede, And by-fore hem alle rede.

a1500 (?a1390) J. Mirk Festial (Gough) (1905) 115 Wherfor mony..spradden cloþys in þe way.

1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier Cornelia i. 74 The golden Sunne, where ere he driue His glittring Chariot, findes our Ensignes spred.

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 94 Thair heid thay laid vpon..a groffe seck spred vndir thame.

c1600 Wriothesley's Chron. Eng. (1875) I. 21 Their was a raye cloath, blew, spreed from the highe desses of the Kinges Benche unto the high alter of Westminster.

1652 M. Nedham tr. J. Selden Of Dominion of Sea 97 To have..Nets spread between stakes driven into the Sea.

a1661 R. Bargrave Trav. Diary (1999) 72 Our Carpetts spread under a Shady tree, beside a Fountaine of delicat water.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 133 Spiders in the Vault, their snary Webs have spred .

1766 T. H. Croker et al. Compl. Dict. Arts & Sci. III. at Woolen Manufactory To beat the wool..is to spread it on a hurdle, and to open its texture by whipping it with switches.

1823 F. Clissold Narr. Ascent Mont Blanc 22 A soft breath of wind spread its folds, and floated it gently in the air.

1849 A. H. Layard Nineveh & Remains I. i. ix. 281 Upon carpets spread under an arbour, formed by a wide-spreading vine.

1881 Cent. Mag. Nov. 17/2 Facing the sunset stood many grave, white-turbaned men.., a small prayer-rug spread before each.

1920 E. Ferber Half Portions iv. 140 Some day they were going to spread a fine red carpet for her to tread upon.

1950 P. Tempest Lag's Lexicon 183 Safety net, the steel nets spread across the hall, from landing to landing on the first floor.

2011 C. Moran How to be Woman (2012) v. 98 A lady must sit down on a spare square of grass, taking care to spread her skirts about her.

(b) transitive. With prepositional phrase indicating the space covered or occupied, as with on, over, upon.

ΚΠ

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 370) (1850) 4 Kings viii. 15 He toke an couerlyte,..and spradde vpon his face.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Num. iv. B They shal..sprede a clothe of scarlet ouer it.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Num. iv. B They shal sprede a couerynge of doo skynnes theron.

1566 J. Barthlet Pedegrewe Heretiques f. 42 They..vsed at certayne prescribed times to spred a cloth vpon a stole, and therevpon to set certayne great Loanes.

1611 Bible (King James) Isaiah xxv. 7 He wil destroy..the vaile that is spread ouer all nations.

1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey iv. 227 These two did spread a Turkie carpet on the rocke, and on that a table-cloth.

1696 E. Phillips New World of Words (new ed.) Toilet, a kind of Table cloth, or Carpet of Silk, Sattins, Velvet or Tissue, spread upon a Table in a Bed-chamber.

1746 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Satires ii. iv. 102 What!..on foul couches Tyrian carpets spread?

1768 T. Gray Fatal Sisters in Poems 81 Gondula, and Geira, spread O'er the youthful king your shield.

1796 Agatha III. i. 5 His sister put down her work, and spreading a coarse but clean cloth on the table, assisted her mother in the preparations for supper.

1837 P. Keith Bot. Lexicon 399 Each membrane represents a bag or sac, without any opening, spread upon the organs.

1873 Appletons' Jrnl. 13 Dec. 756/2 We spread our mantas (rugs) on the sandy bank.

1902 R. Bagot Donna Diana xvii. 335 He spread the newspaper on the table before him.

1936 M. Mitchell Gone with the Wind i. i. 3 Her new..dress spread its twelve yards of billowing material over her hoops.

2010 Los Angeles Times (Nexis) 22 Apr. e4 Paper was spread over a table in a darkroom.

ΚΠ

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 6891 (MED) Hire kertell and hire mantel eke Abrod upon his bed he spredde.

c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lii. 176 I spred abrode a towel on the grene grasse.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Deut. xxii. C They shal sprede out the clothe before the Elders of the cite.

1539 J. Gough tr. J. Le Maire Abbreuyacyon Gen. Councellys sig. D.i Put on your armyes & sprede forth your standardes and Baners.

1634 A. Warwick Spare-minutes (ed. 2) ii. 8 When I see the Larker's day-net spread out in a faire morning.

1674 H. Oldenburg Let. 21 Dec. in Corr. (1977) XI. 149 Suratta-Pigeons, sprightly, and with extraordinary broad Tails, which they spread out almost Peacock like.

1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 31 They spread you out a large napkin..upon the said benches.

1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. iii. vi. 64 We spread abroad the Flaps of our Coats.

1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 266 A third [ship] without any Colours spread out.

1777 in Philos. Trans. 1778 (Royal Soc.) (1779) 68 115 The leather is spread out smooth.

1826 J. Marshman tr. F. C. G. Schrœter Dict. Bhotanta Lang. 310/2 To spread forth cloth or linen in the sun.

1832 J. P. Kennedy Swallow Barn I. xv. 155 With the large canvass mill-bags spread out for saddles.

1840 E. Leslie House-bk. 76 When the tail has thus fallen, spread it up over the whole, smoothly and evenly, to preserve the body and sleeves from being crushed.

1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirlaugh I. 236 When the net-pullers were arranged in proper order, and the net itself spread out, the low bell..began to toll deeply.

1920 U.S. Naval Med. Bull. 14 597 The bedding was spread abroad every day to air.

1961 Motor Boating May 162/2 Our sleeping bags were spread out to dry in the sun.

2011 B. L. Visotzky Sage Tales xv. 130 He took a prostitute by the hand,..spread forth a Torah scroll, and committed a transgression upon it.

(d) transitive. With open.

ΚΠ

1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 267 Shee fals to mending what was amisse [with the nets], to vnwind, spred open, & to set them again in due order.

1660 J. Harding tr. B. Valentine Triumphant Chariot Antimony 131 Spread open your Nets discreetly & carefully.

a1727 I. Newton Observ. Prophecies Daniel (1733) ii. ii. 269 Ezekiel's eating a roll or book spread open before him.

1772 Direct. Raising Flax 14 Women, boys, and girls, should be close employed to spread open the beets.

1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. To Spelder, to split, to spread open; as, to spelder a fish, to open it up for being dried.

1887 W. D. Parish & W. F. Shaw Dict. Kentish Dial. Gambrel or Gamblestick, a stick used to spread open and hang up a pig or other slaughtered animal.

1929 Pop. Sci. Monthly Feb. 121/1 Cut a piece of old inner tube lengthwise and spread it open, flat and straight, upon a board.

1985 C. S. Ward Anaesthetic Equipm. (ed. 2) ix. 187/2 The Braun modification of the McKesson inhaler..has a metal stiffener inside to spread it open and prevent it from pinching the nose.

2013 E. Lange Dead Ends (2014) xxxv. 319 Billy followed me out of the car and spread the atlas open on the bonnet.

b. transitive. spec. Sailing. To put up (a sail) in a position to catch the wind; to unfurl, to set. Also with abroad (now archaic), out, †up.See also to spread a large (full, small) clew at clew n. 7a.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of sails, spars, or rigging > carry specific amount of sail [verb (transitive)] > set or spread (sails)

spreadc1325

seta1400

tilla1665

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 2828 Hor seiles hii spredeþ in þe se & hider hii comeþ iwis.

?a1425 (?a1350) T. Castleford Chron. (1940) l. 25543 (MED) Þe mariners..sprede þar vaile..on cees flode.

1490 W. Caxton tr. Boke yf Eneydos xxi. sig. Fij Theire hyghe saylles..alle spred abrode ayenst the wyndes.

1561 J. Heywood tr. Seneca Hercules Furens ii. sig. F5 Where before y^t ships full sails spred out is worne a pathe for Sarmates wyld to go.

1576 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent 99 They shall spread their sayles to goe towards those partes that the King intendeth.

1581 R. Madoxe Learned Godly Serm. sig. a.v^v Better spread vp a Canuase sheete, then to be quite without a sayle.

1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias i. xxviii. f. 71 The whole Fleete hauing wayed, did then begin to cut and spread their sayles.

1617 Fight at Sea sig. A3 The first of them booning [perhaps read spooning] by himselfe before the winde, with..all his sailes gallantly spred abroad.

a1626 W. Rowley New Wonder (1632) iv. 61 Spred up a lofty sayle As proudly as the best.

1640 R. Brathwait Two Lancs. Lovers xxix. 234 The Mariners hasten me, so as I must contract my lines while they spread out their Sayles.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis vi, in tr. Virgil Wks. 374 He spreads his Canvas, with his Pole he steers.

a1721 M. Prior Charles & Clenard in Dialogues of Dead (1907) 216 A large Ship going out of Port, Charles, with her Sails all spread.

a1732 T. Boston Crook in Lot (1770) 100 Mariners spread out the sails when the wind begins to blow.

1762 W. Falconer Shipwreck ii. 37 (note) The head-sails or foremost sails are spread abroad, so that the whole force of the wind is exerted on the Ship's fore-part.

1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward III. ii. 37 Not a French banner has been borne down, not a sail spread from England.

1836 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 39 439 [She] spread out her white canvass to the freshening breeze.

1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. at Cloth When a ship has broad sails they say she spreads much cloth.

1875 Ld. Neaves Songs & Verses (ed. 4) 80 The skiff, and the lofty three-master, Spread abroad their white sail To each varying gale.

1910 Munsey's Mag. Feb. 733/1 The clumsy anchor was hauled home, the broad sail spread to the western breeze.

1952 Motor Boating Oct. 37/1 The sails are simply spread out and the boat is allowed to run along.

1996 P. O'Brian Yellow Admiral v. 110 Course and mizen topsail was all she could spread.

c. transitive. figurative and in figurative contexts.

ΚΠ

c1390 Vision St. Paul (Vernon) in C. Horstmann Minor Poems Vernon MS (1892) i. 257 His owne cha[r]tre haþ he rad Þat his synnes were Inne I-sprad.

c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Katherine (Arun. 396) (1893) v. l. 1824 Spreede me in thi mercy, lete me neuere falle In to myn enemyes handes.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. cii^v Holy charite..dilateth and spredeth the hert of man or woman.

?1551 A. Bacon tr. B. Ochino 14 Serm. xi. sig. G.i So spredeth he the vaile of ignoraunce ouer the herte of the reprobate.

1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (lxxi. 19) Our mindes must be spredded out..to conceive y^e largenes of it.

1657 T. Aylesbury Treat. Confession of Sinne vii. 128 All sins are not so necessarily to be spread before the Priest.

1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1147 Invocate his aid.., spread before him How highly it concerns his glory now To [etc.] .

1715 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad I. i. 65 A sudden Night he spread, And gloomy Darkness roll'd around his Head.

1780 Mirror No. 101 The toils which her own imagination, and the art of Marlow, had spread for her.

1782 W. Cowper Truth in Poems 73 Man on the dubious waves of error toss'd,..Spreads all his canvass.

1816 W. Scott Antiquary I. viii. 184 She has spread out that vile pennon or banner of womankind..to allure her votaries to death and headlong ruin.

1820 W. Scott Monastery I. ix^*. 290 I should have spread my mantle over the frailties of my spiritual father.

1827 J. Bentham Rationale Judicial Evid. V. ix. iii. iv. 123 It is not for the purpose of advocating..that these remarkable cases are spread upon the carpet.

1849 J. C. Hare Serm. Preacht Herstmonceux Church II. 119 The veil which is still spread out before the clearest-sighted eyes.

1865 P. Brooks Life & Death Abraham Lincoln 23 He spread before us the love and fear of God just in that shape in which we need them most.

1882 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate vi. 15/1 The sky spread out a boundless space of deepest blue.

1886 Cornhill Mag. July 272 Every well-thinking mother in Belgravia with..a marriageable daughter had spread her nets abroad for Joseph Euston.

1914 J. C. Van Dyke Berlin, Dresden: Crit. Notes on Kaiser-Friedrich Museum 177 The brush is rasping, the surface unpleasant... The foliage spread against the sky, and the sheep, illustrate this.

1917 T. S. Eliot Love Song J. Alfred Prufrock in Prufrock & Other Observ. 9 The evening is spread out against the sky Like a patient etherized upon a table.

2001 N. A. Bourke Bone Flute (2004) 98 Who can remember what it is like to be a child or an old woman—with the whole future or past of a life spread before you—and say no to life?

d. transitive. To display as an extensive geographical feature. Also with abroad (now archaic), around (rare), forth (now literary), out. Usually in passive.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > extend [verb (transitive)] > spread (something) out or open > in wide extension

spread1560

1560 J. Heywood tr. Seneca Thyestes iv. sig. Liiii^v Lythe Sparta here, and Arges, that hath bred So wycked brethern? and the grounde of Corinth liyng spred Betwene the seas?

1600 E. Fairfax tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne vi. xxii. 98 A goodly plaine displayed wide and broad, Betweene the citie and the campe was sprad.

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. ii. 676 Nature having removed the hils out of the way on both sides,..hath spred beneath them a most beautifull pleasant vale.

1611 Bible (King James) Num. xxiv. 6 As the valleyes are they spread forth, as gardens by the riuer side.

1695 E. Gibson tr. W. Camden Britannia 680 The heart of the County, where nature..hath spread out a most pleasant vale.

1764 O. Goldsmith Traveller 21 Where wild Oswego spreads her swamps around.

1792 W. Bartram Trav. N. & S. Carolina (new ed.) iii. v. 375 There are extensive cane brakes or cane meadows spread abroad round about.

1807 J. Barlow Columbiad i. 32 He saw, thro' central zones, the winding shore Spread the deep Gulph.

1837 W. Irving Adventures Capt. Bonneville I. viii. 159 A prospect, between distant mountains, of the lava plains of Snake river, dimly spread forth like a sleeping ocean below.

1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) IV. xxxiv. 345 The Euxine spread its waters before their eyes.

1875 J. S. C. Abbott Hist. State of Ohio i. 30 They reached the summit of the most westernly ridge, and gazed..upon the Eden-like beauty of the scene which was spread out before them.

1889 S. Langdon Appeal to Serpent i. 12 The magnificent vision which lay spread beneath when the great city came up close to the ‘holy mountain’ itself.

1900 Appalachia 9 137 The waste that has been worn from the valleys may be seen spread forth in extensive piedmont fluviatile plains.

1937 R. Montgomery Yellow Eyes v. 66 He considered the domain spread below as his kingdom.

1950 F. Maclean Escape to Adventure 374 Serbia was spread out before us in the sunshine.

1992 W. Steger & J. Bowermaster Crossing Antarctica Prologue 12 The prominent color of the landscape spread below was white.

e. transitive. To make flat and thin by or as by hammering.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > condition of being broad in relation to thickness > make broad in relation to thickness [verb (transitive)]

drive?a1475

flat1651

flatten1728

smooth1859

spread1859

pancake1879

1859 New Amer. Cycl. VIII. 352/1 In about 20 minutes' beating the gold is spread to the size of the leaves, covering 16 square inches in place of one inch.

1889 P. N. Hasluck Model Engineer's Handybk. 129 Small drills..are generally made by filing the round steel wire..and then spreading the small end with a single blow from a..hammer.

1926 School Arts Oct. 97/1 The points [of the eyelets] may be spread with a center punch and flattened with a hammer.

2003 B. Russell Essent. G.C.S.E. Design & Technol.: Resistant Materials 45 Malleability—the ability to be easily pressed, spread and hammered into shapes.

a. To send out from itself (parts, an emanation, etc.) in various directions so as to cover or occupy a larger space. Also figurative and in figurative contexts.

(a) transitive. With adverb or †prepositional phrase reinforcing the sense, as about, abroad (now archaic), around, forth (now literary), out.With the prepositional phrase in quot. a1225 compare on length and brede at brede n.² Phrases 2.

ΚΠ

a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 45 Carite sprat his bowes on bræde and on lengðe swiðe ferr.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. vi. 13 It shal be in to shewyng..as an oek, that spredeth out his braunches [a1425 L.V. spredith abrood hise boowis].

a1425 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Galba) l. 27877 (MED) Glotony and dronkinhede, ful mani branches out þai sprede.

1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. ij^v/1 All the sterres shal fall fro the heuen & shal sprede out Rayes of fyr.

1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 110 In the dayes of this Innocent, heresie..beganne to rise vp very high, and to spreade forth his braunches abroade.

1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §493 Mary-golds..doe open or spread their Leaues abroad, when the Sunne shineth serene and faire.

1645 E. Reynolds Israels Prayer iii. v. 40 He promiseth that the Church should spread forth her branches, and fill the earth.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 218 Her..dishevel'd Hair,..widely spread Ambrosial Scents around.

1709 A. Pope Chaucer's January & May in Poet. Misc.: 6th Pt. 205 A Crystal Fountain spreads its Streams around.

1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. at Hypnum The branches of the Hypnums are usually spread about upon the ground.

1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth VIII. 193 The coral-plants..often spread out a broad surface like a fan.

1792 W. Bartram Trav. N. & S. Carolina (new ed.) i. v. 50 The fulgid sun-beams spread abroad their animating light.

1793 Nat. Hist. Birds, Fish, Insects & Reptiles V. 385 He observed it..to spread forth a number of ramifications, each terminated by a flowery petal.

1825 W. Scott Betrothed viii, in Tales Crusaders I. 134 The morning light was scarce fully spread abroad.

1897 ‘M. Twain’ Following Equator xxi. 209 The eucalyptus trees..spread forth their lanky limbs.

1905 R. A. Freeman Golden Pool xxvi. 311 The slender trunks and branches of the great trees..spread abroad their leafy canopies.

1963 A. B. Mickelsen Interpreting Bible ix. 205 He wanted this vine to spread forth its branches and turn them towards him.

1998 Victorian Soc. Jrnl. 1997 8/1 Lastrea montana..spread around their delicious fragrance.

2011 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 4 Jan. d3/4 (caption) Spaghetti worms..are usually mostly hidden except for their tentacles, which they spread out to trap the small particles that they feed on.

(b) transitive. Simply, or with other adverbs and prepositional phrases.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [verb (transitive)]

to-spreada1000

spread?c1225

sowc1350

to-scattera1382

diffund?a1425

dilate1430

disparklec1449

diffuse?a1475

provulgate1535

disperse1576

distract1600

disseminate1603

protracta1658

unroll1813

the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [verb (transitive)] > from a main source or centre

spread?c1225

disperse1555

radiate1786

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 293 Þe soðe sunne..wes for þi itoȝen anhech..for to spreaden overal hate luue gleames.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Iiii Than grace spredeth her beames, that all the soule of man is bryght as a lanterne.

1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus at Pando The elme spreadeth the branches or boughes.

1618 W. Lawson New Orchard & Garden viii. 24 Looke how far a tree spreads his boughs aboue, so farre doth he put his roots vnder the earth.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 643 Pleasant the Sun When first on this delightful Land he spreads His orient Beams.

1781 W. Cowper Retirem. 422 The stream that spreads Its cooling vapour o'er the dewy meads.

1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth ii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 48 A good fire, with the assistance of a blazing lamp, spread light and cheerfulness through the apartment.

1861 ‘G. Eliot’ Silas Marner ii. 26 The little light he possessed spread its beams so narrowly, that [etc.].

1938 D. T. Suzuki Zen Buddhism & Infl. Japanese Culture ii. iii. 247 The Japanese species of the pine known as matsu generally spreads its branches irregularly.

1990 S. Morgan Homeboy xxx. 186 The light shifted, spreading shafts like a Japanese fan.

2007 New Yorker 12 Mar. 71/3 An ash ripe with ash keys spreads its canopy across the two rivers.

b. transitive. To make larger or wider, to extend outwards, to expand. Also with †abroad, out, †up.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (transitive)]

broada1250

room?1316

enlargec1380

largea1382

magnifya1382

alargec1384

spreada1387

amplify1432

brede1440

expanse1477

ampliatea1513

dilate1528

propagate1548

widen1566

explicate1578

expatiate1603

diduce1605

engross?1611

dilatate1613

biggen1643

promote1652

intend1658

expand1665

to run out1683

amplificate1731

broaden1744

outstretcha1758

largen1869

big1884

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 399 He bulde newe citees..and sprad þe endes of his kyngdom wydder þan dede his fader.

a1425 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (Pierpont Morgan) xvii. viii The beste [Amomum] is þat, þat is..sprad up on reed sprayes.

a1450 ( tr. Vegetius De Re Militari (Douce) f. 11^v Þe puple of Rome..han sprad [v.r. sprat] abrood hir empire.

1483 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 89074) (1881) 356 To Sprede oute, dilatare, distendere.

a1500 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Rawl.) (1896) 91 The Pope..graunted the kynge, that he sholde into Irland wende, forto..sprede the termys of holy church.

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iii. vi. 132 Scilla..spredand hyr mouth..To sowk the schippys amang rowkis.

1544 A. Cope Hist. Anniball & Scipio liv. f. 104^v In this ordre they wente forwardes, spreadynge theyr wynges, and makynge a great bosome in the myddell of theyr hoste.

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 147 To spred the boundes of that Jmpire baith braid and wyde.

1653 R. Austen Treat. Fruit-trees 57 The [fig] trees must be set against a South wall, and be spread up with nayles, and Leathers.

1659 R. P. tr. D. Petau Hist. World vi. xiii. 237 He beat the Romans,..and spread his borders unto the River Sumina.

1736 Universal Hist. I. i. vi. 393 This famous emporium was never of very great bigness. It could spread out its walls no farther than the margin of the island.

1759 D. Mallet Wks. (new ed.) III. 23 The deep, Thro all her swelling waves, from pole to pole, Shall spread the boundless empire of thy sons.

1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna vi. xlv. 150 When the earth..Shook with the sullen thunder, he would spread His nostrils to the blast.

1877 A. T. Wirgman Thoughts Harmony between Beatitudes & Lord's Prayer 20 The humble fishers of Galilee [were chosen] to..spread the borders of an Everlasting Kingdom.

1882 Amer. Church Rev. July 50 Spreading its borders, it soon embraced the Persian Empire.

1986 I. Wedde Symmes Hole (1988) 211 The low-water reek of seaweeds and washed-up bush wrack—tart savours that spread his nostrils jaded from the greasy beach.

1999 R. Gellis Mortal Bane (2001) 54 The pressure also spread the edge of the seal a tiny bit.

c. transitive. To thrust, press, or pull (walls, sides, etc.) away from each other. Also with apart, out.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > inclination > divergence > thrust apart [verb (transitive)]

spread1733

1733 W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farming 111 Lay, chamber, and spread their Roots, so that the Fibres might not touch one another.

1753 H. Talbot Let. in Eighteenth-cent. Corr. (1910) xi. 302 The length and Height of the Roof have spread the Walls, tho' very thick.

1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §274 The whole would lie upon the ledges like a single stone, without any tendency to spread the walls.

1853 L. D. Gould Amer. House Carpenter's & Joiner's Assistant 25 All gable-ended roofs have a tendency to spread out the walls.

1868 Brit. Jrnl. Dental Sci. 11 261 I cut the plaster model into three pieces... Spread the sides till the three teeth were admitted in front.

1872 Official Gaz (U.S. Patent Office) 12 Nov. 543/1 To spread apart the sides of the slot in a knitting-machine needle.

1899 P. N. Hasluck Smiths' Work vii. 109 The flatting of the inner face a..has a tendency to spread the edges.

1904 Munic. Engin. Apr. 240/1 The thrust of the cement arches spread the beams or the walls sufficiently to permit the concrete to fall through.

1921 Machinery July 1016/1 The forcing of the brass into position tends to spread the sides of the box.

1944 Amer. Jrnl. Nursing 44 961/1 To..put his bare hands on the skin adjacent to the wound in order to spread the edges and obtain a better view of its depth.

1973 G. E. Burcaw Saxon House 41 Another problem..is how to keep the roof from spreading the walls out.

2001 J. Blurton Scenery i. xiii. 127/2 The down-weight of the roof tends to spread the walls apart.

4. spec.

a. transitive. To draw or stretch out (a person's limbs or body, or a person) as a punishment or torture. Also with out.Chiefly in religious language, in the context of the crucifixion of Jesus.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > punishment > torture > [verb (transitive)] > on the rack

spread?c1225

fordrawc1380

enginec1405

rack?a1439

stentc1480

streekc1480

draw1481

brake1530

excarnificate1570

excruciate1570

stretch1585

to break on the torture1598

distend1599

tenter1615

tousea1616

tympanize1647

the world > space > relative position > posture > action or fact of stretching body > stretch [verb (transitive)] > a person, in punishment or torture

spread?c1225

straina1400

straightc1400

streekc1480

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 286 His leoue licome þe wes isprad on rode.

a1250 Ureisun ure Louerde (Lamb.) in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 185 Hwi nam ich in þin earmes..swa istrahte and isprad on rode.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 16668 Þai..ledd him þan to þe rode tre, and þar-on þai him spred.

c1480 (a1400) St. Andrew 410 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 75 Gyf þat I dred þe croice, quhare-in criste wes spred, þe Ioy of It I na prechit ȝow.

a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 266 in Poems (1981) 141 Turnand a quhele.., And on it spred a man hecht Ixione.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. UUUi^v Remembre his extension..on the crosse. And consyder, howe mekely he spred hymselfe on the same.

1526 R. Whitford tr. Martiloge f. xcix So were they sprad vpon a gredyren w^t hote coles & broyled.

1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 249 The mother se her sonne cruelly spredde on the crosse.

1620 T. Matthew tr. St. John of Avila Audi Filia lxxvii. 391 They commaunded him, to spread himselfe vpon the Crosse.

1624 A. Darcie tr. Originall of Idolatries xvii. 71 The Masse-Priest..stretcheth out his armes, to delineate Christ spred vpon the Crosse.

1693 T. Urquhart & P. A. Motteux tr. F. Rabelais 3rd Bk. Wks. viii. 71 The Noble Valentin Viardiere, whom I found at Nancie..spread out upon a Table after the manner of a Spanish Cloak.

1696 B. Keach Banquetting-house (new ed.) xxxv. 42 On the Cross spread while thus he bled.

1840 T. C. Haliburton Clockmaker 3rd Ser. xi. 153 Lord! how she'll kick and squeell when I spread her out on the close-horse.

1858 C. Kingsley Andromeda 114 They dragged me back From that last kiss, and spread me on the cross.

1868 E. Bulwer-Lytton Chrons. & Characters I. 178 Her glance Fell casual on the conscious countenance Of that white Christ upon the black cross spread.

1917 T. R. Glover Jesus of Hist. iv. 67 They would take a human being, spread him out on a cross on the ground, drive nails through his hands and feet.

1973 Slavic & East European Jrnl. 17 7 His arms spread in the form of a cross, he was pinned to the altar of St. Alban by the spear in his side.

2012 D. Young Eng. Seed 349 Johnson was spread on a wheel and then Longman with ghoulish relish broke the man's arms and legs with an iron bar.

b. To extend outwards (the hands or arms, feet, fingers or toes, legs or thighs, etc.) from one's body so that they or their parts are wide apart; to move (one's limbs, etc.) far away from each other, to stretch out and separate of one's own volition (cf. sense 4a). In early use frequently: †to extend (the hands) to or towards another person (obsolete). Also figurative and in figurative contexts.Of a woman spreading her legs or thighs, often implying sexual intercourse: cf. to open one's legs (to someone) at open v. 4d.

(a) transitive. Without reinforcing adverb.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > posture > action or fact of stretching body > stretch [verb (transitive)] > specific part of body

reacheOE

stretcha1000

to-spreada1000

warpa1225

spreada1275

putc1390

straightc1400

to lay forthc1420

outstretcha1425

tillc1540

extend1611

to rax out1622

to stick out1663

overreach1890

OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Matt. xii. 13 Tunc ait homini extende manum tuam et extendit et restituta est sanitati sicut altera : ða cueð to menn geðen uel gespræd hond ðin & geðenede & geedniuad wæs to hælo suæ ðiu oðra uel oðer hond.]

a1275 St. Margaret (Trin. Cambr.) l. 268 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) 98 Spred þin hond ant nym my swerd.

c1275 Kentish Serm. in J. Hall Select. Early Middle Eng. (1920) I. 218 Ure lord him seide and spredde his hond, and tok his lepre.

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 95 And oþer he refte him hors or wede, Or made him sone handes sprede.

a1425 (a1396) R. Maidstone Paraphr. Seven Penitential Psalms (BL Add. 39574) l. 881 in M. Day Wheatley MS (1921) 56 To þee myn hondis, Lord, I spradde.

a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) cxlii. §6. 474 I spred my hend till the.

a1545 Now synge We ix, in J. Skelton Poet. Wks. (1843) I. 146 I hold my armes abrode, The to receyue redy isprode.

1612 J. Smith Map of Virginia 14 We call them flying squirrels, because spreading their legs, and so stretching the largenesse of their skins that they haue bin seene to fly 30 or 40 yards.

1655 tr. C. Sorel Comical Hist. Francion vii. 9 Spreading his thighs he shewed to the Citizens wife all that he had.

1673 J. Milton At Vacation Exercise in Poems (new ed.) 68 Trent, who like some earth-born Giant spreads His thirty Armes.

1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding ii. xiii. 80 He would put his Arm, where there was before Space without Body; and if there he spread his Fingers, there would still be Space between them without Body.

a1704 T. Brown Remains (1720) 141 Under this Marble Peggy lies, Who did so often spread her Thighs, And made Philander's Courage rise.

1729 R. Lowth Geneal. Christ 18 The mournful Captive spreads her Hands in vain, Her Hands that rankle with the servile Chain.

1781 W. Cowper Charity 596 Like him, the soul..Spread wide her arms of universal love.

1797 ‘F. Fitzgerald’ Gen. Genteel Preceptor iii. 317 Instead of spreading their feet when walking, they fold them.

1816 P. B. Shelley Alastor 13 He..spread his arms to meet Her panting bosom.

1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. v. iii. 310 Swift-crushing is her stroke; look what a paw she spreads.

1848 W. Irving Hist. N.Y. (rev. ed.) iv. xi. 247 Each one put his thumb to the end of his nose, spread his fingers like a fan,..and then smoked on in dubious silence.

1868 Atlantic Monthly Aug. 145/1 [She] laid the child on her lap and fed him, while he..spread his toes in the warm firelight.

1906 R. F. Nelligan Art Swimming (new ed.) i. 21 It is a mistake in side swimming to spread the legs to the sides as in the breast stroke.

1932 D. Hammett in Collier's 19 Nov. 23/1 Spade spread his hands in a gesture of finality.

1958 J. Kerouac Let. 15 Jan. in Sel. Lett. 1957–69 (1999) 106 Went to Harlem..and found a young girl with tight thighs who spread her legs and threw em way back.

1959 M. Cumberland Murmurs in Rue Morgue v. 38 The thumb and extended fingers, spread in front of the face, made a baffling disguise.

2013 J. Trollope Daughters-in-law i. 9 The priest spread his wide, white-sleeved arms and beamed upon Charlotte and Luke.

(b) transitive. With adverb reinforcing the sense, as abroad (now archaic, see also abroad adv. 1c), forth (chiefly in religious language, of hands), apart, out.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > extend [verb (transitive)] > spread apart

spreada1425

divaricate1672

a1425 Lay Folks' Mass Bk. (Cambr.) (1904) l. 239 Þe prest..wyll sprede his armes obrade.

c1475 Wisdom (Folger) (1969) l. 1102 (MED) My handys sprede abrode to halse þe swyre; My fete naylyde to abyde wyth þe.

a1500 (?a1390) J. Mirk Festial (Gough) (1905) 124 He..fell downe to þe grownd, wyth hys armes sprad abrod, as Crist sprad hys armes on þe cros.

1569 W. Samuel Abridgem. Olde Test.: 2 Chron. vi. sig. K.vii^v Faith made the King to God to pray, when he his flock had blest: With armes spred out and vowed knees, thus made he his request.

1583 W. Hunnis Seuen Sobs i. 80 I haue spred foorth my hands to thee, my soule for helpe doth crie.

1611 Bible (King James) 2 Chron. vi. 12 He stood before the Altar of the Lord..and spread foorth his hands.

1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια i. ii. 6 If you conceiue a measure betweene the feete spread abroad, [etc.].

1650 W. Pynchon Meritorious Price our Redempt. 37 When Moses deprecated, that God would take away his Plagues from Pharaoh, he spread abroad his hands.

1696 J. Pechey Gen. Treat. Dis. Maids xxi. 126 Being in this posture she must spread her Thighs abroad, folding her Legs a little towards her Buttocks.

1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure I. 76 Her thighs were spread out to their utmost extension, and discover'd between them the mark of the sex.

1783 J. O. Justamond tr. G. T. F. Raynal Philos. Hist. Europeans in Indies (new ed.) IV. vii. 124 The animals..spread out their legs that they may not fall.

1797 Evangelical Mag. Aug. 335 The holy martyr spread forth his hands and resumed the praises of God.

1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian viii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. I. 237 With all the fingers spread out as if to clutch it.

1829 ‘Philo Lucis’ National Mirror Masonry 19 Their fingers crooked and spread apart.

1838 W. Welsh Poems 11 Like streamers some their feet spread out, Some hottert thro' like cripples.

1867 S. O. Beeton Our Soldiers & Victoria Cross xxiv. 307 They turn their feet inward when walking, and spread their toes out like a duck in crossing swampy ground.

1889 ‘M. Twain’ Connecticut Yankee xxiii. 292 I spread my arms abroad.

1915 G. Lee Diary 6 Apr. in Home Fires Burning (2006) 98 You carefully lay down anything you are holding, then spread out your hands.

1943 A. Rand Fountainhead iii. vi. 504 He lolled pleasurably,..his legs spread out in a wide fork on the carpet.

1968 D. C. N. Hudson & P. S. Dyer Your Bk. of Rugger v. 49 ‘Number 8’..packs down in between the second row, with his back parallel to the ground and his feet spread evenly apart.

1984 P. Barker Blow your House Down x. 62 She lay down on the mattress and spread her legs apart.

2009 Independent 9 Apr. 39/2 You spread your arms out, they become your wings.

c. Of hands, arms, wings, etc.: to extend outwards from the body or a central point so that they or their parts are wide apart. Also figurative and in figurative contexts. Also with †abroad, apart, out.

(a) intransitive.

ΚΠ

a1350 in K. Böddeker Altengl. Dichtungen (1878) 200 Iesu, of loue soth tocknynge, Þin armes spredeþ to mankynde.

c1430 (c1395) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) Prol. l. 143 Lo ȝond he comyth I se hise wyngis sprede.

1607 T. Dekker Whore of Babylon sig. H3 Doe seruile clowdes, (Whose azure winges spread ouer graues and tombes) Our glorious body circumvolue?

1665 J. Crowne Pandion & Amphigenia 18 The Pillars on which the Gate was hung, were made of purest Marble, on the top of which were ingraven Gilded Griffons, whose Wings spread with the shutting, and closed with its opening.

1736 N. Bailey et al. Dictionarium Britannicum (ed. 2) at Mercy Seat On each side..was a cherubim of gold, with wings spreading over the Mercy Seat.

1743 R. Pococke Descr. East I. 120 The particular sort of Ethiopian hawk worshipped here..is represented with a long neck, the wings spreading very wide.

1876 G. C. Davies Swan & Her Crew iv. 16 They [sc. butterflies] climb up the side of the box, and then their wings spread out, and get so large and beautiful!

1894 H. H. Gardener Unoffic. Patriot xix. 292 Both arms lifted themselves up, and both hands spread as if to grasp something.

1958 USSR No. 4 12/2 But when it comes close to the ground the wings spread to full length and the eagle lands without striking.

2007 Tate Etc. Spring 32/1 The further his arms spread apart, the further back the camera shot retreats.

(b) transitive (reflexive).

ΚΠ

a1652 J. Smith Select Disc. (1660) ix. x. 440 The Wings of the Morning spreading themselves upon the Mountains.

1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. i. 10/2 If the Angels stand directly with a full Body, or presence..to our sight; then the Wings do spread themselves on both sides the Body.

1725 D. Humphreys tr. B. de Montfaucon Suppl. Antiq. Explained II. vi. iv. 209 A kind of Petticoat, or rather Wings, spread themselves from her Waste downwards, and she seems as if about to cover every thing with it, as a Hen does her Chickens under her Wings.

1770 T. Nugent tr. E. Toze Present State Europe I. ii. 157 From the Pyrenees,..three vast arms spread themselves thro' the whole country.

1781 T. Francklin tr. Lucian Wks. (new ed.) III. 203 Wings spread themselves out on each side of her, her nose grew hard and crooked, she..became a complete owl.

1831 tr. L. Tieck Pietro of Abano in Old Man of Mountain 331 His [sc. a spectre's] arms spread themselves out like an eagle's wings.

1853 Illustr. Mag. Art 1 135/1 His chest..gradually..thickens into an abyss of stomach, from which two thick short legs spread themselves.

1854 ‘E. Wetherell’ & ‘A. Lothrop’ Carl Krinken: Christmas Stocking 103 His two hands spread themselves to the blaze as if they liked it.

1878 E. C. Price Lost Battle II. xxvii. 262 One of Will's hands was lying outside the counterpane. The fingers spread themselves out, and clenched themselves together.

1907 J. Blyth Canker xvi. 230 His large feet spread themselves out, their square toes projected well outwards.

1934 P. Brunton Search in Secret India xii. 215 His thin hands spread themselves upon the table.

2011 M. Christian Angel of Tsar iii. ix. 210 Her arms spread themselves out like graceful wings.

d. transitive. To open out (wings) in preparation for, during, or as for flight. Also with abroad (now archaic), forth (now literary), out. Also figurative and in figurative contexts.For figurative use ‘to test or develop one's powers, etc.’ see wing n. Phrases 2d.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > extend [verb (transitive)] > stretch out

stretchc900

astretchc1000

i-stretchec1000

thinc1000

to-tightc1200

reacha1300

spreada1382

extendc1386

to lay outa1400

streeka1400

outstretcha1425

rekea1425

stentc1430

outreach?1440

inch out1878

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Deut. xxxii. 11 He spradde out his wyngys.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. l. 417 He sprat his wynge and up he fleth.

a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Deut. xxxii. 11 He spredde forth his wyngis.

1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage of Soul (Caxton) (1859) v. i. 69 They rysen, and mounten ferre fro the erthe, and spreydyn theyr wynges.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Kings vi. 27 The Cherubins spred forth their wynges.

?1554 J. Heywood Balade Mariage betwene our Soveraigne Lord & Lady (single sheet) The egles byrde hath spred his wings And from far of, hathe taken flyght.

1560 Bible (Geneva) 2 Chron. iii. 13 The wings of these Cherubims were spred abroad twentie cubites.

1611 Bible (King James) Exod. xxxvii. 9 And the Cherubims spread out their wings..ouer the Mercie seat.

c1614 W. Mure tr. Virgil Dido & Æneas i. in Wks. (1898) I. 1003 Now silent night spred foorth her sable wings.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 928 At last his Sail-broad Vannes He spreads for flight.

1672 J. Davies Anc. Rites Durham 17 A great Pelican on the height of it, finely gilt..her wings spread abroad.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Volant, in Heraldry, is when a Bird in a Coat of Arms is drawn flying, or having its Wings spread out.

1785 W. Cowper Task iii. 135 The fly, That spreads his motley wings in th' eye of noon.

a1807 W. Wordsworth Prelude (1959) x. 414 I..wish'd that Man should start Out of the worm-like state in which he is, And spread abroad the wings of Liberty.

1831 J. A. Shea Adolph 117 The true-eyed falcon spread his faithful wings.

1835 E. A. Poe in Southern Lit. Messenger Sept. 762/2 Far and wide, over sea and land, the black wings of the Pestilence were spread abroad.

1864 H. W. Dulcken tr. H. C. Andersen Stories & Tales 180 They..spread forth their glorious great wings, and flew away from that cold region to warmer lands.

1871 C. Darwin Descent of Man II. xiii. 95 We must..be cautious in concluding that the wings are spread out solely for display, as some birds act thus whose wings are not beautiful.

1911 A. M. Moreland Through South Westland 163 I saw a bush falcon in the beech before the door, dusky-black when he spread his wings.

1953 Bulgaria Today May 15/1 Early every morning it [sc. a stork] would spread its wings out, then circle three times above the church.

2005 C. A. Haynali Poetry from Heart by Alzheimer's Caregiver 87 Who glides high up above observing His wings spread forth in such beauty As he glides through the clouds.

2009 I. Thomson Dead Yard xiii. 162 On a ribbon of sand at the sea's edge a John Crow (vulture) spread its wings over a piece of carrion.

e. To lay (a person) down with the limbs outstretched and usually relaxed. Also with out.

(a) transitive (reflexive).

ΚΠ

1566 J. Studley tr. Seneca Medea iii. f. 30 He lyuyng spred hym selfe alonge on burnynge Oetas hyll.

1664 J. Barrow Lord's Arm Stretched Out 13 The Boy roared again, and..spread himself on the floar, where he lay with one leg backward and another forward, with his arms spread out.

1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. ix. iv. 306 He then demanded his Billets..and complaining it was cold, spread himself before the Kitchen Fire.

1751 J. Cleland Mem. Coxcomb ii. 144 I took post in the chair set for me, and spread myself out, in full display of my figure.

1786 S. Henley tr. W. Beckford Arabian Tale 99 At last, he spread himself on the sopha, and slept sounder than he ever had before.

1834 J. Morier Ayesha II. ii. 34 He..calmly took off his socks and slippers, spread himself out on his back, put his feet into the noose, received blows.

1866 ‘Lin-le’ Ti-ping Tien-kwoh vii. 187 When I reached the cabin skylight I spread myself out by the side of it and gazed below.

1922 D. H. Lawrence Aaron's Rod (N.Y. ed.) xii. 162 The girl in soft blue spread herself on the couch.

1946 M. McLaverty in R. Greacen Irish Harvest 113 Suddenly there came to her a sharp resentment against Frank the way..he spread himself out before the fire.

2013 C. J. Yates Black Chalk xxxvi(ii). 144 Emilia..moved cautiously toward the bed on which Jolyon had spread himself.

(b) transitive (in passive).In quot. 1693 for the purposes of sexual intercourse: cf. note at sense 4b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > posture > action or fact of lying down or reclining > lie down or recline [verb (transitive)] > with relaxed limbs

spread1609

1609 T. Heywood Troia Britanica vi. 125 From a farre They might espy a goodly Knight lie spread Vpon the grasse.

1684 I. Mather Ess. for Recording Illustrious Providences ii. 43 Took up our Lodging in a dismal place, and were staked down and spread out on our backs.

1693 J. Dryden tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires vi. 92 Many a fair Nymph has in a Cave been spread, And much good Love, without a Feather-Bed.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals x, in tr. Virgil Wks. 46 Mænalian Pines the Godlike Swain bemoan; When spread beneath a Rock he sigh'd alone.

1825 T. W. C. Edwards Bucolics of Virgil 173/2 I lie open or expanded, I am spread out.

1894 Munsey's Mag. 11 327/2 He was spread out in front of the fire with his paper.

1913 C. Marriott Sally Castleton, Southerner xv. 187 Sally could imagine it on winter nights with a lazy cat spread on the hearth.

1985 L. Magner Tender Refuge v. 80 He was spread out on Will's sofa in the proprietary fashion of a male staking a claim.

2006 H. Matar Country of Men (2007) xxii. 222 Mama was spread on the sofa, the covers were off, the window beside her wide open.

5. Of something immaterial.

a. To gradually reach a wider area or more people; to become prevalent or (more) widely existent, present, known, felt, etc.; to become diffused or disseminated. Also with adverb, as abroad (now archaic), about, etc.

(a) intransitive. Of a condition, quality, emotion, reaction, effect, practice, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [verb (intransitive)] > of immaterial things

aspringc1000

to-bredea1023

spread?c1225

rangec1450

disperse1605

disseminate1803

percolate1854

haemorrhage1935

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 77 For as hali writ seið hare speche sprad ase cancre.

c1300 St. Patrick's Purgatory (Laud) l. 467 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 213 (MED) Þare cam smite out a swote smel, and wide a-boute gan sprede.

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 1607 Þurȝ þe sped of þe spyryt þat sprad hym wythinne.

?a1430 T. Hoccleve Mother of God l. 81 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 54 Thy gracious bountee spredith al aboute.

1508 W. Kennedy Flyting (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 211 It was the gud langage of this land, And Scota it causit to multiply and sprede.

1594 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis (new ed.) sig. Fiij^v A second feare through all her sinewes spred.

a1656 Bp. J. Hall Shaking of Olive-tree (1660) ii. 189 Arianisme began in a family, spread over the World.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 117 Take the Traytor's head, E're in the faultless Flock the dire Contagion spread .

1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 265. ¶6 I am informed that this Fashion spreads daily.

1782 J. Priestley Hist. Corruptions Christianity I. i. 75 His opinions are acknowledged to have spread much.

1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 293 This system of nomenclature..spread with great rapidity to other countries.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iv. 457 Discontent and suspicion would spread fast through society.

1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People viii. §1. 449 A new moral and religious impulse spread through every class.

1921 L. Stoddard New World Islam ii. 86 The Salafî movement..started in India..but during the past few years it has spread widely through Islam.

1941 G. C. Booth Mexico's School-made Society ii. 29 Occasionally the maestro explains the existence of microbes and the ways in which disease spreads.

1990 Illustr. London News Summer 46/3 The snuff-taking habit spread during the 18th century.

2006 V. Smil Transforming 20th Cent. iv. 171 This innovation spread rapidly.

(b) intransitive. Of news, information, a rumour, fame, etc.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publish or spread abroad [verb (intransitive)] > spread or be current

springOE

spreadc1300

to go abouta1325

quicka1400

risea1400

runa1400

walkc1400

stir1423

voice1429

fly1480

to go abroad1513

to come abroad1525

wandera1547

divulge1604

to get abroad1615

to take aira1616

to make (also do) the rounds1669

to get about1740

reach1970

c1300 St. Sebastian (Laud) l. 76 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 180 For no miracle þat he dude to wide scholde sprede.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 15062 On þin worthi werkes don Farr spredes þi fame.

c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 365 (MED) Þis speche sprang in þat space and spradde alle aboute.

c1475 (?c1451) Bk. Noblesse (Royal) (1860) 45 The renome of his noble astate and name sprad thoroughe alle cristyn roiaumes.

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. f. ccii/1 It was sayd howe surly they were at Burdeaux,..whiche wordes sprade abrode in the hoost.

1589 R. Greene Menaphon sig. L2^v Which newes spred thorough Arcadie as a wonder, that at last it came to Menaphons eares.

1638 J. Milton Lycidas in Obsequies 22 in Justa Edouardo King Fame..lives, and spreads aloft by those pure eyes.

1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. J. Albert de Mandelslo 96 in Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors Which increas'd as the noyse of the attempt spread more and more into the City.

1685 J. Dryden Threnodia Augustalis iv. 7 The joyful short-liv'd news soon spread around.

1713 Boston News-let. 18 May 2/2 The Rumour whereof may possibly have spread into the Country.

1764 Museum Rusticum IV. 10 The account of this, spreading into Holland, determined the Dutch to send colonies there.

1789 D. Davidson Thoughts Seasons 36 The rumour spreading round the lochan, The cause could not be told for laughin.

1824 W. Irving Tales of Traveller II. iv. 270 His reputation for a ready moneyed man, who would lend money out for a good consideration, soon spread abroad.

1835 W. Wordsworth Yarrow Revisited 245 His fame may spread, but in the past Her spirit finds its centre.

1893 B. Harraden Ships that Pass xvii. 170 Word spread about that Herr Allitsen had arrived.

1915 L. Spence Hero Tales & Legends of Rhine vii. 344 But soon its [sc. a clock's] fame spread abroad to other cities.

1916 W. Lippmann in New Republic 17 June 164/1 A story spread around that one somewhat pro-Roosevelt boss had said: [etc.].

1937 Dict. National Biogr. 1922–30 at Alexandra Caroline Mary Charlotte Louise Julia A malicious rumour spread that the Prince and Princess of Wales had outrun their income.

1978 Staffrider 1 32 News spread like wildfire.

2008 Vanity Fair Sept. 393/1 Soon word of the president's new romance got out, and it spread rapidly.

b. To cause to gradually reach a wider area or more people; to cause to become prevalent or (more) widely existent, present, known, felt, etc.; to disseminate or diffuse. Also with about, abroad (now archaic, see also abroad adv. 1a), around, forth (now literary).

(a) transitive. With a quality, emotion, reaction, effect, practice, etc., as object.

ΚΠ

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 29 (MED) Ouerweninge..makeþ to moche sprede þe merci of our lhorde.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 12716 Quen drightin gan to sprad his grace Til his aun choslings treu.

c1460 Tree & 12 Frutes (McClean) (1960) 13 (MED) If þou wilt also sprede abrode þi charite, I wold [etc.].

a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 208 The taste is a commyn witte, Spraden throgh the body.

a1500 (?a1425) tr. Secreta Secret. (Lamb.) 71 Þe kendly hete ys y-drawe þerto and spredforth by al þe body to þe stomak.

a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 5 So ys the mynd then most perfyt, when hyt communyth & spredyth hys vertues abrode.

1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus Annales iv. xv. 111 Because it was not certainely knowne whom that violent ruine had beaten downe, the vncertaintie spread the feare the farther.

c1614 W. Mure tr. Virgil Dido & Æneas ii. in Wks. (1898) I. 106 O how quick doth love..spreed in every parte A furiows flame!

1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. i. i. 3 The present Coptic or Ægyptian..was probably spred amongst that people in the days of Alexander the Great.

1686 tr. J. Claude Acct. Persecutions Protestants in France 23 The Troops ravaged in this manner the Provinces, spreading terror and desolation in all parts.

1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Explosion, an Action of the Animal spirits, whereby the Nerves are suddenly drawn together..by which they are violently expanded, or spread forth and driven into confusion.

1720 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad V. xvii. 770 Chearing his Men, and spreading Deaths around.

1768 O. Goldsmith Good Natur'd Man i. 14 She could spread an horse-laugh thro' the pews of a tabernacle.

1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. ix. 326 It spread a general alarm among Montoni's people.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 157 His arrival spread dismay through the whole English population.

1854 Poultry Chron. 2 266 It seems likely that, by thus spreading the local interest, shows..might become self-supporting.

1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iii. §4. 128 Wandering teachers..crossed sea and land to spread the new power of knowledge.

1907 Proc. Royal Geogr. Soc. Australasia: S. Austral. Branch 9 19 The reptile age, an age in which a vast crowd of frightful and gigantic lizards spread terror throughout the antideluvian [sic] seas.

1950 V. Peniakoff Private Army ii. v. 128 A message came on the wireless for me. It said: ‘Spread alarm and despondency’.

1980 B. Friel Faith Healer in Sel. Plays (1984) 333 I was doing good, giving relief, spreading joy.

1996 K. S. Robinson Blue Mars 115 Structures that spread the power around, and diminish the dangers of majoritarianism.

2007 E. Osers tr. D. Senghaas On Perpetual Peace x. 196 Terroristically motivated violence wishes to spread terror.

(b) transitive. With news, information, a rumour, fame, etc., as object.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > extend in space [verb (intransitive)]

bredeOE

comeOE

ylasta1175

drawc1180

areachc1225

lastc1275

tillc1290

durea1300

reachc1330

spreada1400

halec1400

reignc1400

splatec1440

extend1481

endure1523

span1535

discoursea1547

wina1578

distend1581

intend1594

sweep1789

outlie1876

society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publish or spread abroad [verb (transitive)]

sowc888

blowc1275

dispeple1297

to do abroadc1300

fame1303

publyc1350

defamea1382

publisha1382

open?1387

proclaima1393

slandera1400

spreada1400

abroachc1400

throwc1400

to give outa1425

promote?a1425

noisec1425

publicc1430

noisec1440

divulgea1464

to put outc1475

skail1487

to come out witha1500

bruit1525

bruita1529

to bear out1530

divulgate1530

promulgate1530

propale?1530

ventilate1530

provulgate1535

sparple1536

sparse1536

promulge1539

disperse1548

publicate1548

forthtell1549

hurly-burly?1550

propagate1554

to set abroada1555

utter1561

to set forth1567

blaze1570

evulgate1570

scatter1576

rear?1577

to carry about1585

pervulgate1586

celebrate?1596

propalate1598

vent1602

evulge1611

to give forth1611

impublic1628

ventilate1637

disseminate1643

expose1644

emit1650

to put about1664

to send abroad1681

to get abroad1688

to take out1697

advertise1710

forward1713

to set abouta1715

circulate1780

broadcast1829

vent1832

vulgate1851

debit1879

float1883

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6213 Son was in land þe tiþand spredd þe folk was turned again and fledd.

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Prioress's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 2 O lord oure lord, thy name how merueilous Is in this large world ysprad.

1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. ccclxvi/2 Anon the tydynges were spredde abrode.

?1504 S. Hawes Example of Vertu sig. cc.vi Of whose noble dedes the brute and sowne Was spred by euery straunge habytacyon.

1518 H. Watson tr. Hystorye Olyuer of Castylle xlv. sig. k.iij^v These tydynges were sone spredde aboute in the ladyes chambres.

1592 A. Willet Synopsis Papismi i. 19 That the death of Christ might by those common and vniuersall toungs be the further spread abroad.

1644 Contin. Speciall Passages Parl. 21 May 8 Many uncertaine reports were spred abroad.

1662 in Extracts State Papers (Friends' Hist. Soc.) (1911) 2nd Ser. 151 Such base lyes..are now dayly & hourely spread abroad against our present Gracious King.

1706 tr. L. E. Du Pin New Eccl. Hist. 16th Cent. II. iv. xxi. 366 The Imperialists also spread it about, That their Master long'd to see the Council at an End.

1724 G. Berkeley Proposal Supplying Churches 6 Missionaries for spreading the gospel among their countrymen.

1746 P. Francis tr. Horace Art of Poetry 469 [This] shall..across the seas To distant nations spread the writer's fame.

a1797 E. Burke Thoughts on Scarcity (1800) 1 Idle tales, spread about by the industry of faction.

1803 tr. F. de B. d'Arnaud Lorimon II. 120 Avarice had not gangreened your soul to the degree report had spread abroad.

1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward II. ii. 54 For this Louis promised to provide, by spreading a report that the Ladies of Croye had escaped.

1849 G. Ticknor Hist. Spanish Lit. I. 33 His reputation was early spread throughout Europe, on account of his general science.

1897 H. P. Hedges Hist. East-Hampton 104 He..made efforts to spread the knowledge of the Gospel among the Montauk Indians.

1931 Amer. Mercury Jan. 88/2 She had to stand off the Dykes about her board bill, and they spread the news around.

1975 Whig-Standard (Kingston, Ont.) 31 July 6/6 Canada's only longrange airliner, the Northstar,..spread Canada's name and fame across the world.

1982 Asian Folklore Stud. 41 73 Tales of miraculous cures,..spread abroad by the constant and wide-flung stream of pilgrims visiting the shrine.

1994 Sun Zoom Spark Dec. 48/1 People who collect stuff about Suede and are genned-up and happy to spread Suedely knowledge about a bit.

2013 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 10 Feb. (Business section) 10/4 Net-speak: phrases you wouldn't hear if the Internet didn't spread them around.

6. To move apart so as to cover a larger area; to become more widely scattered, dispersed, or distributed; to recur or become more common.

(a) intransitive. Without reinforcing adverb.

ΚΠ

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13746 Heo weoren to kene..and to ueor wenden and spradden to wide ȝeond þat feht brade.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3792 Wit þe i sal be in al þi nede And gar þin oxspring wide spred.

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. l. 6788 (MED) Þe crop..gan so florische & sprede Þat al þe pleyn..was schadowed.

?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. vi^v The hyer and the farther that ye cast your corne the better shall it sprede.

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 45 Quhair ance it fixis the rute it spredis.

1605 G. Chapman Al Fooles v. ii. 372 Now take your severall wives, And spred like wilde-geese.

1638 T. Nabbes Totenham Court ii. i. 14 To make the series of their Families Spread in so many glorious divisions.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 354 Her barbarous Sons..spread Beneath Gibraltar to the Lybian sands.

1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Meleager & Atalanta in Fables 108 The Heroes there arriv'd, some spread around The Toils; some search the Footsteps on the Ground.

1735 W. Somerville Chace (ed. 3) ii. 39 Wild Crowds Spread o'er the Plain, by the sweet Frenzy seiz'd.

1784 J. King Cook's Voy. Pacific III. vi. viii. 411 In order to extend our view in the day time, the ships spread between two and three leagues from each other.

1854 J. H. Newman Lect. Hist. Turks ii. ii. 70 The Romans spread gradually from one central city.

1866 C. Darwin Origin of Species (ed. 4) iv. 152 Those species which spread widely tend generally to spread very widely.

1906 P. Kropotkin Mem. Revolutionist (ed. 2) Pref. p. xxvi Similar strikes soon spread all over Poland.

1926 F. W. Hilgendorf Weeds N.Z. 27 Speargrass, a perennial introduced from Australia and recently spreading greatly in the Marlborough Sounds.

1929 H. MacQuarrie We & Baby 103 Drovers usually allow their beasts to ‘spread’ some miles before reaching water.

1954 F. C. Lane All about Insect World 56 The European mantis has been brought to America and so have several Oriental species. They seem contented and have spread everywhere.

2007 C. Nouvian Deep 168/2 This phenomenon..caused the evolution of new deepwater species, which then spread northward into the other oceans.

(b) intransitive. With adverb reinforcing the sense, as about, abroad (now archaic), around, (now esp.) out.

ΚΠ

c1300 St. Edward Elder (Laud) 52 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 48 His Men pleiden and Arnden bi þe weie, and spradden a-boute ful wide.

a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xvii. 272 As soone as the saisnes were logged thai spredde a-brode in the contrey to forry.

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cccxxi. 498 So the men of armes sprad abrode.

1611 Bible (King James) Gen. xxviii. 14 Thou shalt spread abroad to the West, and to the East, and to the North, and to the South.

1730 J. Thomson Autumn in Seasons 134 The gleaners spread around, and here and there, Spike after spike, their sparing harvest pick.

1807 T. Thornton Present State of Turkey v. 202 If..they failed in making an impression on the enemies line, they spread out to the right and left, and opened a greater front.

1887 I. Randall Lady's Ranche Life Montana 160 The captain of the round-up tells them to spread out into a wide half-circle.

1920 Discovery Nov. 330/1 Collingwood signalled to some of his ships to spread out.

1942 J. G. Brainerd et al. Ultra-high-frequency Techniques 334 Forces of repulsion between electrons..cause the groups of electrons to spread out.

1960 Res. Papers (Klamath County Museum) No. 2. xvii. 24 Back on Lost River with his people Captain Jack was a prince again. His people spread around to their accustomed haunts.

1994 Asia Major 7 78 The youth hangs a white banner atop a tree. Hu soldiers spread about, before and behind.

2012 Sight & Sound Apr. 30/2 The vehicles arrived in front of the fountain, stopped, and the actors spread out and started to act.

b. transitive (reflexive). Also with about, abroad (now archaic), around, out, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [verb (intransitive)]

bredeOE

bespreadc1275

skaila1300

springc1390

shaila1400

spread1560

disperse1605

diffuse1655

1560 Bible (Geneva) 1 Chron. xiv. 13 Againe the Philistims came and spred them selues in the valley.

1611 Bible (King James) 1 Chron. xiv. 13 And the Philistines yet againe spread themselues abroad in the valley.

1682 M. Rowlandson Soveraignty & Goodness of God (ed. 2) vii. 21 The Indians quickly spread themselves over the deserted English Fields, gleaning what they could find.

1706 tr. L. E. Du Pin New Eccl. Hist. 16th Cent. II. iv. xi. 453 They spread themselves about among the Cities of the Venetian State.

1727 C. Colden Hist. Five Indian Nations i. 3 The Adirondacks were obliged to spread themselves far, because of the scarcity of the Game.

1751 tr. Frederick II Mem. House Brandenburg 73 Their troops spread themselves around, and their different parties over-run the whole country.

1767 New Coll. Authentic Voy., Discov. & Trav. II. 351 Directions were given to spread themselves out a mile and a half, that she might not pass them in the dark.

1792 W. Bartram Trav. N. & S. Carolina (new ed.) ii. iii. 87 Pistia stratiotes..associates in large communities, or floating islands... They are first produced on, or close to the shore, in eddy water, where they gradually spread themselves into the river.

1821 H. M. Williams tr. A. von Humboldt Personal Narr. Trav. V. i. xx. 90 Clouds of moschettoes more or less thick, according as these little animals..form into groups, or spread themselves abroad.

1840 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop xxv, in Master Humphrey's Clock I. 233 The whole cluster took to their heels and spread themselves about, shouting and laughing as they went.

1855 C. Kingsley Westward Ho! III. v. 180 They began to spread themselves along the stream.

1877 H. James in Galaxy Dec. 784/1 London holiday-makers flock down there in hundreds, and spread themselves over the place.

1901 R. C. Maclagan Games Argyleshire 22 Behind this [mark] the fielders of the side ‘out’ spread themselves.

1921 P. Colum Golden Fleece & Heroes who lived before Achilles i. x. 90 They spread themselves abroad and entered the houses.

1936 W. C. Williams in New Directions (1942) 7 263 Four picnickers..come in from the right... Hot from walking, they spread themselves around.

1941 E. Raymond Last to Rest ii. i. 163 A cataract of demons tumbled from the lorry and spread themselves about.

1992 J. Buckley & M. Durnford Europe: Rough Guide ii. xx. 1100 Thousands of Nivea-smeared tourists spread themselves across the nudist beaches.

2013 D. D. Harris Garden of E ii. 9 The Seeker groups..spread themselves out as they strategically locate edible plants throughout the garden.

7. To extend by natural development. Also figurative and in figurative contexts.

(a) intransitive. Of flowers, leaves, etc.: to open out, unfold.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > be a flower or part containing reproductive organ [verb (intransitive)] > open or unfold

spreadc1275

flower13..

unfoldc1350

spanishc1425

c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 437 Þe blostme ginneþ springe & sprede.

c1430 (c1395) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) Prol. l. 48 To sen these flouris a-gen the sunne to sprede.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvi. 67 Lewis on the branchis spredis, And blomys bricht besyd thame bredis.

c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) xxi (MED) The tender flouris opnyt thame and sprad.

1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 530 Flouris spreidand..Of diuers hew, with mony cullour cleir.

1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball vi. i. 653 When these buddes do open and spreade, the..Roses do muster and shewe foorth of colour white.

1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 323 As soon as it is put into warm water, it spreads and reassumes its former green Colour.

1698 W. Harris & J. Keill tr. N. Lémery Course Chym. (ed. 3) ii. xiii. 523 It is best gathering Roses newly spread a little after Sun-rising.

1765 Museum Rusticum 4 94 When the barley begins to spread, (or brewer).

1803 A. H. Haworth Miscellanea Naturalia 150 In autumn and winter, the terminal leaves of the stolones spread less.

1843 Ladies' Repository July 36/1 While pleasant thoughts around each trembling spray, Hover like honey-bees when rose-buds spread.

1905 B. S. Parker After Noontide 184 When the Dream Bud spreads and the lilac springs, One maiden, only one, has the hidden wings.

1945 Torreya 45 114 On some trees, the anther-valves begin to lift and expose the pollen before the petals have fully spread.

2003 E. Bruns et al. in M. D. Schwartz Phenology 100 The flower is considered open only when the outer leaves have spread and the stamens are visible.

(b) intransitive. To grow so as to cover a large or increasing area; spec. (of a tree) to grow outwards.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > grow in a specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > climb, creep, or spread

spreadc1300

runc1425

creep1530

ramp1578

clamber1601

couch1601

crawl1637

gad1638

climb1796

ramble1858

c1300 St. Kenelm (Laud) 116 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 348 Him þouȝte þat þare stod a treo..Þat a-non to þe steorrene it tilde and swyþe wide it spradde [c1300 Harl. spredde].

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 27877 O glotori and o drunkenhede Fele wick branches se we sprede.

a1535 T. More Dialoge of Comfort (1553) i. ii. sig. A.iiii^v Lyke the lytle graine of a musterd sede..set it in the garden of our soule..shall it growe, and so spreade vp in heighte, that [etc.].

1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Mowbray f. xiiiv The deper doth the sounde roote sprede abrode.

1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 42^v Good hop hath a pleasure, to clime & to spred.

1618 W. Lawson New Orchard & Garden viii. 24 The roots..must needs spread far vnder the earth.

1676 A. Marvell Mr. Smirke sig. E2 When it germinates, spreds, blossomes, and bears fruit.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 135 A Steer..whose Head Now first with burnish'd Horns begins to spread .

1743 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Odes II. iv. xi. 6 With living wreaths to crown our heads The parsley's vivid verdure spreads.

1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. i. iii. 7 One Petal; it consists of two Parts, viz...the Limb, or upper Part, which usually spreads wider.

1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) I. 83 Not rising high, but spreading wide upon the ground.

1802 Barrington's Hist. New S. Wales viii. 283 The she oaks were more inclined to spread than grow tall.

1826 D. Booth Art of Brewing (ed. 2) 174 The roots..spread to a great distance.

1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess iv. 74 The branches thereupon Spread out at top.

1923 Chambers's Jrnl. Dec. 828/2 A huge, gnarled tree, tremendously thick and spreading like an ombú.

2000 Canad. Geographic July 82/2 A vine that drives me nuts because its sinewy roots spread like fury.

†(c) intransitive. To arise or spring from. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > originate, derive, or arise [verb (intransitive)] > arise gradually, develop, or evolve

to grow upa1599

spread1642

develop1744

evolve1851

evolute1872

1642 H. More Ψυχωδια Platonica sig. G7^v How the mixture of their rayes may breed Th' opinion of uncertain qualitie, When they from certain roots of life do spreed.

b. transitive (reflexive) in senses 7a(a), 7a(b).

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > extend [verb (reflexive)]

spread1340

stretcha1387

extend1481

ramify1796

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 23 Þes boȝ [sc. of pride] him spret ine uele manyeres ariȝthalf and alefthalf.

a1500 (?a1425) tr. Secreta Secret. (Lamb.) 91 Also þare ys a tree þat hauys leuys of vygour, and his braunches spredyn hem on þe erthe.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. i. sig. Bb7^v Before the gate a spatious playne, Mantled with greene, it selfe did spredden wyde.

1604 C. Edmondes Observ. Cæsars Comm. II. vii. xxxi. 113 Great firme boughs..spreading themselues at the top into very sharpe cags.

1629 J. Parkinson Paradisi in Sole 280 The rootes spread themselues vnder ground very much from the toppe.

1700 S. L. tr. C. Frick Relation Voy. in tr. C. Frick & C. Schweitzer Relation Two Voy. E.-Indies 47 The Leaves [of the coco-nut tree] spread themselves all in a fuff, and the Nutts under them.

1726 L. Theobald Shakespeare Restored App. 191 There is some Power else besides balmy Air, that brings forth, and makes the tender Buds spread Themselves.

1787 W. Withering Brit. Plants (ed. 2) I. 260 The boughs spread themselves wider, and hang more down than those of the U. campestris.

1828 H. Steuart Planter's Guide viii. 214 Roots spread themselves in the ground, in a way nearly analogous to that, in which branches spread themselves in the air.

1867 M. A. Paull tr. H. C. Andersen Fairy Tales 469 The summit of this tree spread itself for miles like an entire forest.

1915 C. Field tr. A. Strindberg German Lieutenant & Other Stories i. 16 The baby oaks spread themselves out to bushes in order to kill the tender beech-seedlings.

1985 J. Hospital Borderline 143 The tree spread itself like a great umbrella whose points almost touched the ground.

2005 J. A. Jackson Adventure Trav. in Himalaya iv. 39 Thick succulent leaves of Stonecrop..with their small star-like flowers, spread themselves out from each soil-bearing crack and cranny.

8. To expand to cover a large or increasing area; (also) to stretch far and wide, to be displayed as an extensive geographical feature. Also with adverb, as about, abroad (now archaic), around, forth (now literary), out. Also figurative and in figurative contexts.

a. transitive (reflexive).Quot. 1340 could be interpreted as intransitive, and is also coloured by sense 7 (cf. quot. 1340 at sense 7b, in a comparable context from the same source).

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (reflexive)]

spread1340

expatiate1650

spread1693

expand1776

the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (intransitive)] > cover more space by

spread1340

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 17 Þis zenne him to-delþ and spret ine zuo uele deles þet onneaþe me may hise telle.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xix. lxxvii. 1337 Colde makeþ many roughnesses [emended in ed. to makeþ roughnesse] in moiste water [read mater], byndynge and drawynge þe vtter parties to þe myddel, and lettynge þe þynne partyes to sprede hemself outward.

c1540 J. Drummond tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova Def. of Age sig. B.i^v The fore sayd spyced wyne, when it is receyued of man, it spredeth it selfe abrode in y^e partes of the body.

1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (lxv. 12) The same fatnesse spreadeth itselfe even into the uninhabited countries.

1611 C. Tourneur Atheist's Trag. (new ed.) i. sig. B1^v Had not my Body spredde it selfe Into posteritie; perhaps I should Desire no more increase of substance.

a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia: Richard II cclxxx, in Poems (1878) III. 207 The King now spreads himselfe; and, as a source, Issues in larger Streames.

1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 141 The Clouds had spread themselves over the Tops of the Hills.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 120. ¶11 This natural Love is not observed in Animals to ascend from the Young to the Parent;..it spreads it self downwards.

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson iii. ii. 309 The different blendings of these woods and lawns..as they spread themselves differently through the vallies.

1797 Encycl. Brit. XI. 142/1 The smoke from the cook-room spread itself all over the ship.

1821 P. B. Shelley Adonais xlii. 21 He is a presence..Spreading itself where'er that Power may move [etc.].

1840 Fortress I. v. 123 A glow of pleasure spread itself over his open sun-burnt brow.

1871 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest IV. xviii. 202 A city which in the tenth century..had spread itself far beyond the Roman Walls.

1909 Catholic World Aug. 655 The country spread itself in panorama before our eager gaze.

1921 Gas Manuf., Distribution & Use (Brit. Commerc. Gas Assoc.) ii. 107/2 The glass powder melts and spreads itself as a thin layer of coloured glass over the iron.

1985 J. Hospital Borderline 89 A film of dullness spread itself in the wake of the [wet dish]cloth like a blight.

2006 New Yorker 21 Aug. 75/1 He loved the way the wake spread itself out..and how..the water gathered itself into order and smoothed quickly.

2014 J. W. Green Growing up in Lee-on-the-Solent vii. 24 It [sc. ink] could even sneak unseen on to your fingers and then spread itself just about everywhere.

(a) intransitive. Of something material.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away in all directions > move away in all directions (of things)

spreada1382

dissipe1597

dispel1643

dissipate1660

break1827

to spread off1850

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms iv. 2 In tribulacioun thou spraddest out [a1425 L.V. hast alargid] to me.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Joel ii. 2 As the mornyng sprad abrood [L. expansum], vpon hillis myche peple and strong.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18113 A deu, al for to mak þam hale, On þam sal spred.

a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1882) iv. l. 118 Fir and flaumbe on al þe toun shal sprede.

c1450 King Ponthus (Digby) in Publ. Mod. Lang. Assoc. Amer. (1897) 12 44 (MED) The water spred aboute vpon the ston.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 730 I spredde a brode, as a ryver that breaketh out of his channell or any suche lyke thyng.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Joel ii. 2 A stormy daye, like as the mornynge spredeth out vpon the hilles.

1577 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Islande Brit. i. xi. f. 33^v/1, in R. Holinshed Chron. I The maine streame spreading abroade into the Fennes.

1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus (new ed.) sig. Qi A litle sparke spreading burnes a whole Cittie.

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 666 Within a Valley deepe, there spreadeth farre a Lake.

1663 B. Gerbier Counsel to Builders 10 Nature of Aire being to ascend, and when it meets with a sudden opposition it spreads.

1686 W. Harris tr. N. Lémery Course Chym. (ed. 2) i. i. 49 Gold will spread under the hammer more than any other Metal.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 160. ¶8 I saw the Valley opening at the further End, and spreading forth into an immense Ocean.

1738 E. Chambers Cycl. (ed. 2) at Paper Blotting Paper, is Paper not sized, and in which therefore ink readily sinks or spreads.

1789 H. L. Piozzi Observ. Journey France I. 400 London spreads chiefly the Marybone way perhaps.

1798 A. Aitchison Mod. Gazetteer II. 522/2 It [sc. the river Tay] spreads abroad a third time into the elegant and spacious lake, called Loch Tay.

1817 P. B. Shelley Mont Blanc iii, in Hist. Six Weeks' Tour 178 Broad vales..that spread And wind among the accumulated steeps.

1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. i. vii. vi. 364 Our straight frondent Avenue..spreads out into Place Royale and Palace Forecourt.

1854 Poultry Chron. 2 92 Thin, hackle-like feathers, spreading and drooping all round.

1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. 124 The clouds spread more and more.

1880 L. Parr Adam & Eve I. xii. 321 A patchwork of fields spread out and ran down to the cliffs.

1898 R. Bridges in Cornhill Mag. Sept. 308 Below their breezy crowns..Spreadeth the infinite smile of the sunlit sea.

1922 K. Bryan Routes Desert Watering Places 321 Pools of water that occur along the channels where flood waters spread out over adobe flats.

1932 ‘L. G. Gibbon’ Sunset Song ii. 99 The fire crackled up and spread and roared through the bushes.

1942 W. Faulkner Go down, Moses & Other Stories 92 The old worn-out brier- and sedge-choked fields spreading away.

1952 G. F. Hervey & J. Hems Freshwater Trop. Aquarium Fishes vi. 64 Dried food tends to spread out over the surface of the water.

1993 Guardian 18 Nov. ii. 13/4 Certain photopharmaceutical dyes can be injected into the body and allowed to spread around.

2008 J. Buckler & H. Beck Central Greece & Politics of Power iv. 76 At the crest of the mountain the landscape spreads below.

(b) intransitive. Of a condition, quality, emotion, effect, practice, etc.

ΚΠ

a1450 tr. Bk. Tribulation (Bodl.) (1983) 65 The humour of the loue of thin herte is the lasse couenable to gostly fructifieng whan it spredeth to muche in braunches of flesshly frendes.

a1500 (c1350) Octovian (Cambr.) (1986) l. 1500 (MED) Me thynkyth..That y am of hys [sc. the emperor's] own blode, Yf hyt so pouerly myght sprede.

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) v. viii. 82 The prynce Eneas..Na langar suffer wald..fers Entellus mude thus rage and sprede.

1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus at Mano Runnyng sores: or sores that spread farther and farther.

1611 J. Donne Anat. World sig. B4 Our blushing redde, which vs'd in cheekes to spred, Is inward sunke.

1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 207 The Mortification seem'd to spread.

1789 M. Underwood Treat. Dis. Children (rev. ed.) II. 10 Should the shingles spread and become sore, it should be treated as directed below.

1815 J. F. Stephens Shaw's Gen. Zool. IX. i. 60 The green becomes gradually more brilliant..and spreads over the coverts of the wings and tail.

1864 R. Browning James Lee's Wife in Dramatis Personæ 8 But why must cold spread?

1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VI. 106 The readiness with which it [sc. sarcoma] spreads in upon..the pulmonary tissue.

1932 Boys' Life Apr. 48/4 From the breast of the bronzed raider a red stain spread slowly over the brown leaves of the forest floor.

1985 J. P. Kelly in B. Sterling Mirrorshades (1986) 96 It's an oozy kind of coolness spreading across the back of my skull.—like mud.

1988 New Yorker 26 Sept. 74/2 A holiday that had begun..in the lower Mississippi and had spread forth into such innocent milieus as eruptions in Iceland and flowing red lava in Hawaii.

2013 G. Albin Altered xiv. 125 I fight the panic spreading through my limbs.

†(c) intransitive. to spread off: to lift or withdraw from. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away in all directions > move away in all directions (of things)

spreada1382

dissipe1597

dispel1643

dissipate1660

break1827

to spread off1850

1850 G. Cupples Green Hand vii, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Jan. 81/1 The fog spread off the water near us.

9. (Without reference to an area being covered or occupied.) To become larger or wider; to be thrust or pulled outwards. Also: to move apart, to separate. Also with apart, out.Not always clearly distinguishable from sense 8.

a. intransitive.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (intransitive)]

greateOE

grow1382

enlarge1481

to gain more feathers1600

spread1611

burnish1624

sizea1631

dilate1636

greaten1638

expatiate1650

widen1650

biggen1652

expand1791

magnify1814

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separate, come, or go apart [verb (intransitive)]

to-dealeOE

shedc1000

asunderOE

to-twemea1225

sunderc1225

twin?c1225

atwin?a1400

to make separationc1450

separe1490

twain15..

sever1545

unsever1609

spread1611

separate1638

disclaim1644

to come apart1764

to go separate ways1774

twine1886

1611 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdoms World (new ed.) i. 7 The more they decline from the Æquator, the more they spread in stature and talnesse.

1677 N. Cox Gentleman's Recreation (ed. 2) i. 72 Seek for his Slot: If he findes the Heel thick, and the Toe spreading broad, it argues an old Deer.

1721 J. Perry Acct. Stopping Daggenham Breach 52 A strong drift Work to be made,..to prevent the Dam from spreading and settling out at Foot.

1782 J. Warton Ess. on Pope (new ed.) II. vii. 55 The sybil..is likewise represented as spreading.., and growing larger and larger.

1784 M. Underwood Treat. Dis. Children 94 The gums swell, spread, and become hot.

1839 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 2 146/1 The violent vicissitudes of the seasons soon deranged the foundation.., and caused the [railway] track to spread.

1845 R. Bedingfield Peer & Blacksmith lx. 379 The form, always large, had spread to a great size.

1847 A. C. Smeaton Builder's Pocket Man. (new ed.) 146 The walls of a public building in Paris had spread, or..were thrown out of their perpendicular.

1871 Figure Training 110 The toes..spread widely, and in fan form, out.

1911 Decisions Comptroller Treasury 17 391 The walls had spread at the top sufficiently to seriously derange the adjustment of the lock gates.

1912 Pop. Sci. Monthly Feb. 139 Our toes should spread apart..when we put our weight on the forward part of the foot.

1922 A. Jekyll Kitchen Ess. 51 Try this recipe for Baked Roly-Poly... Should it spread whilst cooking, push into shape with a palette knife.

1937 Amer. Home Apr. 138/2 I could tamp and squeeze and pack like a veteran brickmaker, and my mold wouldn't spread apart.

1984 R. M. Pyle Audubon Soc. Handbk. for Butterfly Watchers xiii. 171 As the male's claspers spread apart, insert the female's rear with very little pressure.

1995 Best Wishes Spring 62/1 Stroke your baby's soles. This will set off the Babinski reflex—his toes will spread and the big toe will lift high in the air.

2011 D. R. George Star Trek Tryton Pact: Rough Beasts of Empire 55 His waist had spread some and his hair had gone white.

b. transitive (reflexive).

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (reflexive)]

spread1340

expatiate1650

spread1693

expand1776

1693 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 17 863 You shall immediately see..these minute Creatures..presently affected from the Acid Particles, so as to spread themselves, and tumble down seemingly dead.

1723 Philos Trans. (Royal Soc.) 32 157 Having moisten'd them, they spread themselves out further.

1807 Med. & Agric. Reg. May 262 Such limbs (well cleared of thorns) will spread themselves apart to receive the meliorating influence of the sun.

1856 Little Pilgrim July 53/2 Then the wonderful stranger asked if they would not like a better abode; and while he was yet speaking, the narrow walls spread themselves out, and the low roof lifted itself.

1863 H. W. Bates Naturalist on River Amazons II. iv. 283 Long, curved, hairy feathers having long bare quills, which, when raised, spread themselves out in the form of a fringed sun-shade over the head.

1909 M. F. Sanborn Canvas Door iii. 60 The toes spread themselves apart and curled up fascinatingly.

1914 Town Planning Rev. 4 312 The effect is not one of spaciousness, for every house looks as if it would like to spread itself, but is not allowed to do so.

1953 Jrnl. N.Y. Entomol. Soc. 61 84 The long legged macrocnema..usually spread themselves out flat on the moist sand.

2014 L. Walker Thorns of Rose 29 The sun shines brightly in the sky As the clouds spread themselves apart.

10. U.S. colloquial. To make a considerable effort, to exert oneself. Also: to draw attention to oneself, to show off.

a. transitive (reflexive). Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > exert oneself [verb (reflexive)]

afforcec1300

enforcec1386

virtuea1393

endeavourc1400

naitc1400

envirtue1477

exploit1490

to put it forthc1500

constrainc1510

efforce1512

lay1535

evirtuate1642

to exert oneself1736

hump1835

spread1843

to put about1983

the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > make ostentatious display [verb (reflexive)]

to feat oneself fortha1400

peacocka1586

venditate1600

air1828

overplume1890

spread1891

showboat1984

1843 J. S. Robb Streaks Squatter Life 79 Hoss mounted the balcony of the hotel, and rolling up his sleeves ‘spread himself’ for an unusually brilliant effort.

1857 S. H. Hammond Wild Northern Scenes 266 He had promised..to spread himself in the preparation of this meal.

1891 E. Kinglake Austral. at Home 58 The gentleman who had just ‘spread himself’ was very angry at having the effect of his speech thus spoiled.

1892 E. Reeves Homeward Bound 204 I must (to use your slang) be allowed ‘to spread myself’ a little, and give you a minute account of everything I see.

1942 W. L. McAtee Rural Dial. Grant County, Indiana, in 'Nineties 61 Spread one's self,..assume airs, act ostentatiously.

1956 Princeton Alumni Weekly 23 Nov. 64/2 Hank really spread himself! The platter is a magnificent piece of silver intricately and amusingly designed.

†b. intransitive. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > make ostentatious display or show off [verb (intransitive)]

brandishc1340

ruffle1484

braga1556

swash1556

flourish1563

flaunt1566

prank1567

prink1573

to shake, wag the feather1581

peacockize1598

air1605

display1608

to launch it out1608

flasha1616

to cut it out1619

flare1633

vapour1652

peacock1654

spark1676

to gallantrize it1693

bosh1709

glare1712

to cut a bosh1726

to show away1728

to figure away, off1749

parade1749

to cut a dashc1771

dash1786

to cut up1787

to cut a flash1795

to make, or cut, a splash1804

swank1809

to come out strong1825

to cut a spludge1831

to cut it (too) fat1836

pavonize1838

splurge1844

to do the grand1847

to cut a swath1848

to cut a splurge1860

to fan out1860

spread1860

skyre1871

fluster1876

to strut one's stuff1926

showboat1937

floss1938

style1968

1860 J. G. Holland Miss Gilbert's Career x. 173 He sort o' stands round, and spreads, and lets off all the big talk he hears.

1884 ‘M. Twain’ Adventures Huckleberry Finn xxi. 179 He howled, and spread around, and swelled up his chest.

1897 W. D. Howells Landlord Lion's Head 376 One of the jays, who was spreading on rather a large scale, wanted Jeff to spread with him.

III. Senses with main emphasis on distributing or covering something.

11. transitive. Often in passive.

a. To set food, cutlery, crockery, and other items on (a table, board, etc.) in preparation for a meal. Also with with. Also intransitive with object understood. Cf. lay v.¹ 35b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > setting table > [verb (transitive)]

layc1300

spreadc1300

setc1386

servec1405

cover1563

to lay in1788

lie1809

fix1842

the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > arrange [verb (transitive)] > for or with something

spreadc1300

aset1340

to set out1809

c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) (1963) l. 7128 (MED) Bordes hii lette sprede [c1275 Calig. breden], cnihtes þar-to sete.

1483 W. Caxton in tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. ccclxxxxv/1 They fonde the tables spredde redy sette ful.

a1500 tr. La Belle Dame sans Mercy (Cambr.) l. 101 in F. J. Furnivall Polit., Relig., & Love Poems (1903) 84 The boordes wer spred in ryght lytell space.

1549 R. Crowley Psalter of Dauid xxiii. sig. f.ii^v Thou wylt spreade a table for me:..and fyl my cuppe with greate plentie.

?1566 J. Phillip Commodye Pacient & Meeke Grissill sig. B.i She spread the table and made me good cheare.

1614 C. Brooke in Englands Helicon (new ed.) sig. R2 The Board being spread, furnish't with various Plenties.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) ii. ii. 190 Dromio, goe bid the seruants spred for dinner.

a1640 F. Beaumont et al. Loves Cure iii. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) 133 I kept him Seaven daies in a darke Room by Candle-light, A plenteous Table spread with all good meats.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 276 We spread the Tables, on the greensword Ground.

1768 T. Gray Descent of Odin in Poems 90 Tell me..For whom yon glitt'ring board is spread.

1797 A. Radcliffe Italian II. x. 345 Schedoni, preferring to take his repast in the open air, a table was spread under the luxuriant shade of the forest-trees.

1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham I. xxiii. 196 Another table, still spread with the appliances of breakfast.

1868 M. M. Pomeroy Nonsense 214 They sat in the shade, smashing flies, while I spread for lunch.

1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate iv. 272 Valerie spread her grand-uncle's little table and placed his food before him.

1932 ‘L. G. Gibbon’ Sunset Song i. 52 He raged at her, telling her to spread a table with breakfast for the doctor.

1990 New Yorker 19 Feb. 50/2 We always spread the table at home for a foreign guest.

b. To cause to occupy all or parts of the surface of; to apply a scattering of something over; to cover, overlay, deck, or strew. Also with over. Usually with with. Also figurative and in figurative contexts.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > cover [verb (transitive)] > spread or draw over (a thing) as covering for > bespread or cover with

wryc950

bredeOE

bridgeOE

bespreadc1275

couchc1330

spreadc1330

cover1382

overspreadc1385

overlaya1400

overcast1440

to draw overc1450

ramplish1494

to lay over1535

c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 442 Þe forest was fair and wide, Wiþ wilde bestes y sprad.

c1330 Gregorius (Auch.) (1914) 772 On bed he fel hir biside, Ysprad it was wiþ grene palle.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 15027 Þai spred þe strete wit cloth and flur.

a1500 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Trin. Dublin) l. 1514 Than..[he] arayes all þe cyte, Spredes ouer with bawdkens all þe brode stretes.

1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes (new ed.) f. 14 Spite draue me into Borias raigne,..When hilles were spred and euery plaine, With stormy winters mantle white.

1589 A. Fleming tr. Virgil Georgiks iii. 46 in A. Fleming tr. Virgil Bucoliks T' vnderstrew or spread the bare ground with..Handfuls of ferne.

1611 Bible (King James) Isa. xl. 19 The goldsmith spreadeth it ouer with golde.

1693 J. Dryden tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires xvi. 315 The Courts of Judicature were hung, and spread; as with us.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 583 The Morn..Had scarcely spread the Skies with rosie Light.

1717 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 1 Apr. (1965) I. 342 The rooms are all spread with Persian Carpets.

1812 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Cantos I & II ii. vii. 64 Silence spreads the couch of ever welcome rest.

1826 E. Craven Mem. Margravine of Anspach I. vii. 249 The basset bank was opened, and the table spread with cards and ducats.

1859 Habits Good Society 88 He must be there..to spread the card-table and form the rubber.

1898 W. K. Johnson Terra Tenebrarum 141 And be the memoried tomb with rose-leaves spread.

1929 E. A. Roberts & E. Rehmann Amer. Plants for Amer. Gardens iii. 26 The outcropping ledges are veritable little rock gardens. Mosses and lichens spread them with soft grays and greens.

1991 ‘W. Trevor’ Reading Turgenev iv, in Two Lives (1992) 45 Sometimes he would..see one of the counters spread over with suspender-belts and roll-ons.

c. To cover with a thin or even layer of some soft substance, as butter; to prepare by covering with such a substance. Also with over (the thing covered). Usually with with (the substance). Also intransitive with object understood, chiefly in imperative in recipes and other instructions.Quot. 1574 may belong at sense 11b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > coating or covering with a layer > coat or cover with a layer [verb (transitive)] > smear or spread with a substance

smear971

dechea1000

cleamc1000

besmearc1050

clamc1380

glue1382

pargeta1398

overslame?1440

plaster?1440

beslab1481

strike1525

bestrike1527

streak1540

bedaub1558

spread1574

daub1598

paste1609

beplaster1611

circumlite1657

oblite1657

fata1661

gaum?1825

treacle1839

butter1882

slap1902

slather1941

nap1961

1574 E. Hake Touchestone for Time Present sig. C4^v That breade can neuer be wholsome and good breade which hath once bene spreade ouer with ratten bane or other poyson.

1579 W. Fulke Refut. Rastels Confut. in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 783 What so euer remained..shoulde be giuen to..children..(not spred..with butter) but sprinkled with wine.

1621 T. W. tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard 6 Contenting himselfe to eate..a piece of bread spread with honey.

1676 R. Wiseman Severall Chirurg. Treat. iii. v. 230 I..applied a Pledgit spread with unguent. alb. camph. over all.

1726 N. B. Farrier's & Horseman's Dict. 42/2 Cut a Slice of a Wheaten Loaf, toast it well, then spread it with Honey on both sides.

1750 W. Ellis Country Housewife's Family Compan. 44 Spread it over with Butter, roll it up, and work it as before.

1827 W. Scott Surgeon's Daughter in Chron. Canongate 1st Ser. II. ii. 31 Every old woman..can prescribe a dose of salts, or spread a plaster.

1866 Godey's Lady's Bk. June 549/2 Split the cakes while warm, and spread with the cream.

1883 Housewife's Libr. i. xi. 164 Make a good biscuit dough, and roll about three-quarters of an inch thick, and spread with berries, preserves, or slices of apple.

1891 S. J. Cutter Palatable Dishes 371 Mix them well together, and spread the bread, then cut off in thin slices.

1905 Eng. Dial. Dict. VI. 128/2 Thunder-and-lightning,..bread spread over with cream and treacle.

1935 M. Struan Pop. Home Cookery 234 Press half the mixture in a well-buttered tin, and spread with the dates.

1960 E. David French Provinc. Cooking 208 The pissaladière is a substantial dish of bread dough spread with onions, anchovies, black olives, and sometimes tomatoes.

2002 Bon Appétit Sept. 102/3 Arrange 6 toast slices on work surface. Spread each with some aioli.

12.

a. To distribute or disperse (a substance or a number of things, or a layer of something) over a surface or area; to throw here and there, to scatter.

(a) transitive. Without reinforcing adverb. Frequently with prepositional phrase of place.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)] > scatter here and there at intervals > over an area

spreada1325

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 490 Or or flum noe spredde his fen.

c1350 Nominale (Cambr. Ee.4.20) in Trans. Philol. Soc. (1906) 6* F[emme]. ble sye et fenz esparplie, W[oman]. scheruth corne and muk spredith.

c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 76 Fore blak blood he se e-spred Apon þe aschelere euen.

a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xv. 240 Ther sholde ye haue sein grete trouble of tables down-caste and the vitaile I-spredde wide.

1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 13^v Sawe dust spred thick, makes alley trick.

c1600 (?c1395) Pierce Ploughman's Crede (Trin. Cambr. R.3.15) (1873) l. 301 (MED) Nou han þei..spicerie sprad in her purse to parten where hem lust.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 255 The flourie lap Of som irriguous Valley spread her store.

1723 H. Rowlands Mona Antiqua Restaurata iii. 14 Sometimes in inland turberies they find a layer of Marle, clay, or gravel, spread over that peaty fibrous matter.

1727 P. Longueville Hermit 168 Wanting a Tool to spread and turn his Grass, he takes a Branch off the next Tree.

1732 A. Bower Historia Litteraria 3 558 To complete his quackish Farce [he] spread printed Bills all over Paris.

1742 W. Ellis London & Country Brewer (ed. 4) I. 7 When the Malt is dried it must not cool on the Kiln, but be..spreaded wide in an airy Place.

1797 G. Staunton Authentic Acct. Embassy to China II. v. 417 On these rafts they spread a layer of soil, from whence they raise various kinds of vegetables.

1841 E. W. Lane tr. Thousand & One Nights I. 96 He poured out the powder into it, and spread it.

1875 J. D. Heath Compl. Croquet-player 89 Finely sifted earth must now be spread over the lawn.

1877 S. Hibberd Amateur's Kitchen Garden 158 Manure should be spread around the stool to insure some benefit to the roots of the [rhubarb] plant.

1895 R. W. Frazer Pearl of Temple in Silent Gods (1896) 57 The ryots who spread the water in the fields..lay dead before the rice was ready for reaping.

1914 J. Joyce Dubliners 144 Old Jack raked the cinders together..and spread them judiciously over the whitening dome of coals.

1950 T. Dale For Insurance against Drought (U.S. Dept. Agric. Farmers' Bull. No. 2002) 8 Make it [sc. runoff] run down a grassed waterway and then spread it over a pasture, meadow, or wooded tract.

2004 Horse Illustr. Apr. 66 A chain harrow is useful for spreading manure in your pasture.

(b) transitive. With adverb reinforcing the sense, as about, abroad (now archaic), around.

ΚΠ

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xxxii. 12 Þou hast spoken [altered from yspoken]..þat þou schuldist sprede abrode my seed: as þe grauell of þe see.

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 213 A clooth steyned or ymagis sprad abrood in dyuerse placis of the chirche.

1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Baucis & Philemon in Fables 157 Baucis..rakes the Load Of Ashes from the Hearth, and spreads abroad The living Coals.

1721 J. Wilson Let. 21 Jan. in I. Newton Corr. (1977) VII. 126 The Defamatory Writings they spread abroad on that Occasion, were without a Name.

1724 J. Swift Let. to Molesworth 15 Two Printed Papers clandestinely spread about.

1785 W. Cowper Task v. 221 When man was multiplied and spread abroad In tribes and clans.

1842 J. C. Loudon Suburban Horticulturist 392 If the materials are spread abroad during frost, it [sc. fermentation] is totally impeded.

1895 S. Crane Red Badge of Courage xii. 123 There seemed to be a great ruck of men and munitions spread about in the forest and in the fields.

1901 Jrnl. Polit. Econ. 9 595 The ‘Mercury Women’ who helped spread abroad the fledgling news sheets.

1934 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 17 May The old-fashioned heater spread fumes about.

1951 S. H. Bell December Bride ii. xviii. 212 The mair ye tramp in dung, the mair ye spread it around.

1990 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch (Nexis) 11 Dec. c2 Members bought corn for landowners who spread it around for quail.

b. transitive. In passive. Of people, animals, etc.: to be scattered, dispersed, or distributed over or throughout an area.

ΚΠ

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 650 And or he was on werlde led, His kinde was wel wide spred.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 3264 We ssolleþ hom abbe al uor noȝt..Vor hii beþ naked & onywar & ysprad wyde.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 169 Þerfore it is þat þey beeþ i-spred so wyde.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6046 O þam it was sua mani bredd, Ouer all þe land þan ware þai spredd.

a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 1766 (MED) His squiers that fro hym fled, With sore strokys are they spred Vppon the wanne see.

c1540 Pilgrim's Tale 99 in F. Thynne Animaduersions (1875) App. i. 80 Thes holy men beyn thus about sperd [read spred], Thorow all this lond, in euery sled.

a1650 G. Boate Irelands Nat. Hist. (1652) xiii. 111 Little Tufts or Ilets..consisting of Reeds, Rushes, high sower Grass,..a few feet in compass;..These little Ilets or Tufts being..spread over all the Bog.

1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth IV. 302 The other [dromedary] is found spread over all the Desarts of Arabia.

1826 G. Samouelle Gen. Direct. collecting Exotic Insects & Crustacea 44 He met with a certain species of Papilio in abundance and spread all over the island.

1841 Penny Cycl. XX. 148/2 The Rook is spread over the greater part of Europe.

a1886 W. Hillebrand Flora Hawaiian Islands (1888) 265 About 60 species,..a few littoral species spread through Polynesia.

1905 W. L. Sclater in W. Flint & J. D. F. Gilchrist Sci. in S. Afr. 134 The Hares..are spread all over the country.

1947 J. Stevenson-Hamilton Wild Life S. Afr. xxv. 205 This animal is spread throughout the Ethiopian region.

2010 J. Al-Khalili Pathfinders (2012) p. xxvi Its two main sects were the Nestorians..and the Monophysites (who were spread throughout Syria, Anatolia and Egypt).

c. transitive. To apply (a substance) to an object or surface in a thin or even layer; to cover an object or surface with (a layer of something) thinly or evenly. Also intransitive with object understood, chiefly in imperative in recipes and other instructions.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > coating or covering with a layer > coat or cover with a layer [verb (transitive)] > smear or spread with a substance > smear (a substance)

cleamc1000

smeara1400

spread?a1425

strike1525

splet1530

dab1592

stroke1594

sponge1607

daub1647

wipe1738

plaster1799

teerc1850

slather1866

cake1944

?a1425 MS Hunterian 95 f. 165^v, in Middle Eng. Dict. at Spreden Ȝif a surgen doute þat his medicine drie to sone..þen he schal sprede it on a lefe.

c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in MS Wellcome 564 f. 61 Take as myche of þe iuys of daies yȝe..Thanne sprede it on a lynnen clooþ.

1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. vii. sig. K^v On my breade any butter to be spreade.

1579 W. Fulke Refut. Rastels Confut. in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 783 The residue of the..bread..was giuen to..children.., whether to spredde their butter,..or to eate it with cheese, I cannot saye.

1611 Bible (King James) 1 Kings vi. 32 He..ouerlayd them with gold, and spread gold vpon the Cherubims, and..the palme trees.

1653 I. D. G. tr. F. P. de la Varenne French Cook 88 Take some cheese, melt it with some butter, on onion whole, or stamped..spread all upon bread.

1707 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1886) II. 43 He eats..Bread and Butter, which he spreads with his Thumb.

1787 T. Best Conc. Treat. Angling (ed. 2) 10 Spread a thin layer of shoemaker's wax over the slants.

1832 T. Brown Bk. Butterflies, Sphinxes & Moths I. iv. 75 It is a practice with collectors to entrap the large Tortoise-shell Butterfly..by spreading honey on the leaves of a tree which they are in the habit of frequenting.

1835 R. D. Hoblyn Dict. Terms Med. & Collateral Sci. 329/1 Melt..48 parts each of white wax and fine turpentine, and 32 parts of spermaceti, and spread on paper.

1870 Pall Mall Gaz. 23 Sept. 12/1 The unknown genius spreads butter upon his bread.

1911 Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 392/1 Upon the concrete foundation is first spread a layer of fine bituminous concrete.

1948 Good Housek. Cookery Bk. 587 Sandwich the cakes together with the filling, spreading some on the top also.

1967 Boston Globe 21 May 23/4 Use bleach which has been cut with water and spread on the counter tops.

2001 J. Franzen Corrections 405 Her guest..spread butter on her third healthy wedge of artisanal rye bread.

2002 J. Harris & F. Warde French Kitchen 55/1 Mix together the cream and Dijon mustard and spread over the pastry base.

d. transitive. To place (a number of things, or the constituents of a whole) at a distance from each other; to distribute discretely over a surface or area. Frequently with adverb reinforcing the sense, as about, around, forth (now literary), out. Also with prepositional phrase of place. Also figurative.

ΚΠ

1539 R. Morison tr. Frontinus Strategemes & Policies Warre iv. v. sig. Mvi His ennemie commyng downe on euery side to oppresse them..gaue the consull good occasion to range and spreade out his armie.

?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter cv. 298 Syng out, wyth iust accorde: and play in instrumentes: Tell all hys factes most meruelous: sprede out hys ornamentes.

1573 G. Gascoigne Hundreth Sundrie Flowres 388 The Turkes..Disorderly did spread their force.

1592 T. Kyd Spanish Trag. iii. sig. E3^v Ile spread the watch,..Strongly to guard the place where [etc.].

1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. ii. sig. Aa3 On his head [was] an hood with aglets sprad.

1623 A. Simson Sacred Septenarie 215 The watchman looketh about to see the Sun spread out his beames, he knoweth that light doth not come from below.

a1631 J. Donne Poems (1633) 135 The Sun-beames in the East are spred.

1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 36 There you see..men sitting upon a Carpet on the ground, with a great many Books spread round about them.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 298 Getulian Cities here are spread around.

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. v. 180 We spread our ships in such a manner, that it was not probable any vessel of the enemy could escape us.

1763 J. Wheeler Botanist's & Gardener's New Dict. 303/1 Take up the roots of fine colchicums..and spread them out on a mat in a dry airy room.

1790 F. Burney Diary Jan. (1842) V. 85 The air of common employment was such, that..everything of that sort was spread about..—workboxes, netting-cases, c. c!

1791 S. Dobson tr. Petrarch View Human Life 241 A very rich gentlewoman of Campania womanishly spread forth her fair ornaments before her.

1809 A. Wilson Foresters in Port Folio 1 541 Hunks of bacon all around were spread.

1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna x. xxxviii. 231 Fix on high A net of iron, and spread forth below A couch of snakes, and scorpions.

1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. i. 13 Sometimes it is easy to spread these [flues] over one side or wall of the room.

1883 R. Broughton Belinda III. iv. iii. 213 She is sitting at the table, an open writing-case before her, papers and an hotel bill spread around.

1903 Mrs. De la Pasture Cornelius 7 A Crown Derby service was spread forth upon a round table.

1922 F. S. Fitzgerald Beautiful & Damned ii. i. 150 On his dressing-table were spread a number of articles..their tickets to California, the book of traveller's checks.

1965 M. Spark Mandelbaum Gate iii. 73 The crib-figures..were spread about on the glass top of a display cabinet.

1978 R. V. Jones Most Secret War (1979) ii. xxi. 355 Differences in speed and navigation between individual bombers caused them to be increasingly strung out and spread.

1985 R. Holmes Footsteps iii. i. 139 I wanted a table to spread my books.

2008 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 27 July (Educ. Life section) 13/2 To exchange cash for chips, spread out bills so none touches.

2012 Internat. Herald Tribune (Nexis) 3 Nov. 14 He spreads forth his preparatory work, a series of newspaper articles clipped, highlighted and taped onto paper.

e. figurative and in figurative contexts, esp. in sense 12c, often with thin(ly) or thick(ly).See also sense 12g.

(a) transitive. Miscellaneous uses.See also to spread it on thick at thick adv. 1c, to spread the wool over (a person's) eyes at wool n. 1g(b).

ΚΠ

a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1962) X. 51 Spread we this a little thinner, and we shall better see through it.

1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 209 In some places [a stream] spreads Meanders.

1658 J. Votier Vox Dei & Hominis ii. iii. 164 The Scripture is a treasure of precious promises..: They are spread thick upon the pages of holy writ.

1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. p. xliii They [sc. polite speeches] ought to be husbanded better, and spread much thinner.

1743 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Odes (new ed.) I. ii. i. 5 For whom the triumphs o'er Dalmatia spread Unfading honors round thy laurel'd head.

1783 R. Cumberland Let. to Richard Lord Bishop of Landaff 68 Lessen these emoluments, spread them thinly through the body of the poor parochial clergy.

1824 H. G. Spafford Gazetteer State N.-Y. (new ed.) 265/1 We might..convert our iron-ore and wood and water-power and labor, into money, and spread it, like manure, to enrich our own country.

1846 G. Grote Hist. Greece I. i. vi. 152 (footnote) The commentators..were disposed to spread a coating of history over these transactions.

1899 Christian Work 17 Aug. 252/1 To-day the amalgam of truth and error is spread more thickly over the minds of men than ever before.

1931 L. C. West Rom. Brit. i. 3 Roman culture apparently did more than spread a veneer of civilization over the land.

1934 L. Charteris Boodle i. 25 We have to spread it [sc. £1000] around to try and keep the starting price from shortening.

2009 Independent 8 Oct. 34/6 We do..have to spread the jam pretty thin in order to cover the wide array of needs and tastes of our large customer base.

(b) transitive. to spread oneself thin and variants: to commit oneself to so many individual activities or areas that one's time, energy, resources, etc., are not used to good effect. Frequently in to spread oneself too thin.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake or apply oneself [verb (reflexive)] > undertake more than is practicable

to spread oneself thin1871

overextend1909

the world > action or operation > endeavour > [verb (reflexive)] > attempt more than one can do

overreacha1568

to spread oneself thin1871

overextend1909

1871 Pennsylvania School Jrnl. May 318/1 He can concentrate his efforts mainly upon a single subject,..and master it, or he can spread himself, thin, over a far greater surface.

1897 W. H. Preston Credits, Coll. & their Managem. v. 71 It is not often we find a man capable of spreading himself over a large number of interests without spreading himself too thin to be successful for any length of time.

1958 Jrnl. Higher Educ. 29 297/1 Teachers often try to spread themselves too thin over too many subjects.

1985 Times Lit. Suppl. 15 Mar. 284/4 The author spreads himself too thinly among too many characters.

2003 Vancouver Province (Nexis) 22 Apr. b5 Taking a bigger role in the writing and production, Madonna might have spread herself too thin this time.

f. transitive. To set out (a meal, banquet, etc.) ready for eating. Also figurative and in figurative contexts.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > setting table > [verb (transitive)] > lay out meal

set1575

spread1648

1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. xiii. 90 With this we spread our supper upon the green table-cloth.

1678 N. Tate Brutus of Alba v. 52 Love spreads a Feast, but you Fix Harpy Vows to drive me from the Dainties!

1785 W. Cowper Task i. 433 Beneath the open sky she spreads the feast.

1828 R. Duppa Trav. Italy 63 The table on which the last supper was spread is in the church of St. John Lateran.

1852 N. Hawthorne Blithedale Romance xxiv. 245 Some old-fashioned skinkers and drawers..were spreading a banquet.

1868 ‘H. Lee’ Basil Godfrey's Caprice II. xlvii. 313 Soon tea was spread on the round table.

1926 People's Home Jrnl. Feb. 9/3 The food..tended to induce those before whom it was spread to gormandize.

1980 P. O'Brian Surgeon's Mate x. 317 And now their dinner was spread..two pairs of fowls, a saddle of mutton, half a dozen side-dishes.

2014 Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Va.) (Nexis) 20 July The family spread a picnic on the beach.

g. transitive. To divide and distribute among a number of people or things or over a period time or a number of things.

ΚΠ

1720 Fatal Consequences Gaming & Stock-jobbing 8 Riches are not very unequally spread among Mankind.

1817 Asiatic Jrnl. & Monthly Reg. Dec. 599/2 Those whose contracts were spread over a greater number of voyages, had received less of those advantages.

1819 Minutes Evid. Lords Comm. to enquire into Bank of Eng. 34 Have you observed..that a Fall in Prices to the Amount of 5 per Cent, spread over the Space of a Year..has produced any great Inconvenience to Commerce?

1855 D. T. Ansted in Orr's Circle Sci.: Inorg. Nature 133 The knowledge needed by the artist..involves various inquiries, spread over many sciences.

1885 Act 48 & 49 Victoria c. 50 §11 The repayment of the money to be borrowed shall be spread over a series of years.

1914 Financial Times 23 May 5/6 Payment of 1s extra per day to be allowed to men whose hours of duty are ‘spread over’ more than thirteen hours per day.

1923 Labour Mag. 2 183/2 How it [sc. capitalism] is to be more widely spread at the beginning of this golden age for small capitalists.

1942 S. B. Hutchison & R. K. Winters Northern Idaho Forest Resources & Industries 44/2 The work has been spread more thinly among those still dependent upon lumbering for income.

1966 A. Battersby Math. in Managem. ix. 220 The familiar ‘economy of scale’ which results from spreading the fixed costs over a large number of items.

1986 O. Rackham Hist. Countryside xii. 262 The principle of pontage—spreading the repair cost of a bridge among the townships at some distance on either side of it.

2008 Wall St. Jrnl. 11 Feb. a3/1 The cost of tax breaks that allow companies to take deductions immediately, instead of spreading them over several years.

h. transitive. U.S. To record or enter on a document. Chiefly in to spread on the record(s).

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > record > written record > record in writing [verb (transitive)] > enter on record

writeOE

setc1175

embreve?c1225

enrolc1350

enter1389

rollc1400

enact1467

act1475

enchroniclea1513

ascribe1532

re-enter1535

to put down1574

register1597

inscroll1600

emologea1639

spread1823

to book in1860

to sign on1879

log1889

sign1894

to sign out1916

to sign in1924

1823 Niles' Weekly Reg. 8 Feb. 412/2 This paper..ought to be spread on the records.

1845 J. F. Cooper Chainbearer II. iv. 44 It will greatly aid the reader..if I spread on the record the language that passed between my late agent and..his confidant.

1858 D. K. Bennett Chronol. N. Carolina 67 Resolved,..that they [sc. resolutions] be spread on the journals of both branches of the General Assembly.

1894 T. F. Robley Hist. Bourbon County, Kansas 184 Councilmen Dimon, White and Drake caused the following order to be spread upon the minutes.

1910 Atlantic Monthly Feb. 231 Achievements in that field are naturally not spread on the record.

1931 Randolph Enterprise (Elkins, W. Va.) 26 Mar. 1/5 Resolved that a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family, a copy spread on the minutes of the lodge, [etc.].

1946 S. W. Mendum et al. Useful Rec. for Family Farms (U.S. Dept. Agric. Farmers' Bull. No. 1962) 23 Summarizing the results means using the facts spread on the records to answer questions.

2006 Congress. Rec. 152 19660/2 How can intelligence operatives report on the strengths and weaknesses of our allies when those conclusions will be spread on the record?

13.

†a. transitive. To overrun or overspread (an area). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [verb (transitive)] > spread over or through (something)

overgangOE

overflowOE

spread?c1335

overspreada1400

overflood1882

?c1335 in W. Heuser Kildare-Gedichte (1904) 92 Þe erþe, þe watir þan sal sprede.

c1400 Brut (Rawl. B. 171) 84 (MED) Þai..wenten oute of here shippis and spraden al þe contreye.

a1425 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Linc. Inn) (1952) l. 4051 Alisaundre comeþ wiþ his pray His folk sprediþ al þe contray.

1579 T. Churchyard Miserie of Flaunders sig. B.i^v The countrey through, was spred and plaged sore.

1633 T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia i. ii. 22 MacGuire, who with some Horse (likewise dispersed) had spread a good circuit of ground, in hope..to get some bootie.

1654 E. Johnson Hist. New-Eng. 1 The multitude of irreligious..affected persons spred the whole land like Grasshoppers.

1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 116 Our Negroes spread the Banks of the Lake..for Game.

1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 68 The Gangren..had spread her whole Body.

b. transitive. literary. To cover; to extend or be scattered, dispersed, or distributed over. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > extend [verb (transitive)] > extend over > extend over so as to cover

overgroweOE

wryc1275

overtakec1425

overreachc1440

overrun?1440

spread?1567

overcreep1640

cover1874

the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > cover [verb (transitive)] > form or act as covering for > by spreading

overbredeeOE

overgoOE

overspreadc1230

overcomea1300

spread?1567

bespreada1664

?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter iii. lxiv. 209 Behold thy pact: ones made (to vs) for darkenes pestilent: Is spred the earth: where theeues do dwell: both false and violent.

1606 J. Marston Parasitaster (rev. ed.) iii. sig. E The red that should haue spread her cheekes, nature let fal vpon her nose.

a1657 G. Daniel Scattered Fancies xxiii, in Poems (1878) II. 57 When the bleake Face of winter spreads The Earth, and violates the Meads Of all their Pride.

1664 S. Blake Compl. Gardeners Pract. 76 Bay-trees are planted..chiefly in fore-Courts at a yard difference, to the end that they shall spread the wall.

1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii, in Fables 53 Rich Tap'stry spread the Streets.

1725 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. i. 173 A purple carpet spread the pavement wide.

1792 R. Sydserff Treat. Bees v. 55 The whole swarm..will spread the wall.

1800 T. Moore tr. Anacreon Odes xvii. 24 Now from the sunny apple seek The velvet down that spreads his cheek!

1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 130 Refreshing greenness spread the plain.

1876 D. Williams Poems 187 Higher rose the fiery cloud, Till like a shroud it spread the heavens, with thunders loud.

1908 N. Innes My Lady's Kiss xx. 288 A carpet spread the floor.

1948 T. Capote Other Voices, Other Rooms i. 27 A sea of deepening green spread the sky like some queer wine.

†c. transitive. To be coextensive with; to extend the length or breadth of; to reach along. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > longitudinal extent > [verb (transitive)] > extend along the length of

spread1670

1670 R. Norris in Adventures (Mr. T. S.) Eng. Merchant 248 There cometh always out of the West between the two Capes a Race of a Current which spreadeth the whole Streights-mouth from side to side.

1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 127 The head spreads the topgallant yard.

1895 ‘Q’ et al. Story of Sea I. 754 Sheets, the ropes spreading the lower courses of the square-sails.

IV. Specialized senses.

14. transitive. Music. To play the notes of (a chord) in rapid succession rather than simultaneously; to play (notes) in this way.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > perform (music) [verb (transitive)] > specific style or technique

squeak1577

tinkle1582

divide1590

shake1611

slur1746

da capo1764

rattlea1766

to run over ——1789

skirl1818

spread?1822

develop1838

arpeggio1864

propose1864

recapitulate1873

jazz1915

lilt1916

jazzify1927

thump1929

schmaltz1936

belt1947

stroke1969

funkify1973

scratch1984

scratch-mix1985

?1822 W. Sheppard New Piano Forte Preceptor iv. 55 The performer is said to spread the Chords when (instead of striking all the notes together) he plays them one after the other.

1862 Musical Times 10 255/1 No chord or octave should be spread, unless it require an accent.

1873 H. C. Banister Music 17 The notes..are to be played..in Arpeggio,..or spread obliquely, as it is termed.

1938 Oxf. Compan. Music 48/1 Arpeggiare (It.), to play harpwise, i.e. (on the piano, etc.) to spread the notes of a chord, from the bottom up.

1953 W. Emery Bach's Ornaments 102 On the harpsichord or clavichord, a chord is often very much more effective when spread than when played sec.

1977 Gramophone June 68/2 The violinist also spreads some of his two-note chords.

1997 Early Music 25 504/1 This liveliness is obtained through..his nearly constant habit of spreading chords so that the top note falls on the beat. O'Dette tends to spread a lot of chords.

15. intransitive. Bridge. To show one's hand to prove that one can win all or none of the remaining tricks. Cf. spread n. 18.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > bridge > [verb (transitive)] > actions or tactics

declare1895

promote1899

to lead up to1911

to take out1918

squeeze1926

push1927

spread1929

cash1934

overtake1939

underlead1945

finesse1960

1929 M. C. Work Compl. Contract Bridge 245 Spread, to ‘claim the rest’.

1964 R. L. Frey & A. F. Truscott Official Encycl. Bridge 520/1 Spread,..verb: to spread the hand, either as a claim or as a concession of the remaining tricks.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	spread
释义	spreadn. Brit. /sprɛd/, U.S. /sprɛd/ Forms: see spread v. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: spread v. Etymology: < spread v. Compare earlier spreading n.With use in sense 11a compare Dutch sprei (c1600 as †sprie in this sense; already in Middle Dutch as sprey in sense ‘heap of flax spread on the ground to dry’), and also Dutch †spreeder, in same sense (1588 in Kiliaan). I. The action, process, or fact of spreading or being spread, and other abstract senses. †1. Probably: something undergone, an experience. Only in a bitter spread. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > hardship > a) hardship(s) hardnesseOE hardship?c1225 fitc1325 hardinessa1398 a bitter spreada1500 endurancea1555 endurement1605 straina1628 a hard chapter1684 a1500 (?c1450) Bone Florence (1976) l. 1841 (MED) The marynere set hur on hys bedd; Sche had soone aftur a byttur spredd. 2. a. The fact or process of gradually reaching a wider area or more people, or of becoming prevalent or (more) widely existent, present, known, felt, etc.; diffusion, dissemination. (a) With the and of. ΚΠ 1565 W. Allen Def. & Declar. Doctr. Purgatory i. Pref. f. 18^v Considering..the greate spreade of contagion that this vntrue doctryne hath wroght. 1588 S. Bredwell Rasing Found. Brownisme 112 He playeth that enuious Onans part, that abhorred the building of his brothers house, respecting more the spread of his own name. 1606 E. Forset Compar. Disc. Bodies Nat. & Politique 66 To discerne an approching euill betimes, and to stop the spread thereof before it become through continuance vncureable, is..a foresight most necessarie. 1621 S. Ward Life of Faith ix. 63 They coole the heate, and stay the spread of the infection. 1750 T. Herring in J. Duncombe Lett. Several Eminent Persons Deceased (1773) II. 271 I cannot account for the large spread of the story. 1785 W. Cowper Let. 28 Nov. (1981) II. 404 The Bishop's charge..deserves the most extensive spread. 1855 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Philip II of Spain I. ii. iii. 419 It may seem strange that the spread of the Reformed religion should so long have escaped..the Holy Office. 1891 Speaker 2 May 534/1 The growth of education and the spread of scientific training. 1928 V. G. Childe in Antiquity 2 37 The later phases of the Bronze Age are marked by the spread of large cremation cemeteries generally termed urnfields. 1964 E. Salisbury Weeds & Aliens (ed. 2) iii. 72 The history of the spread of the North American Rush..presents several features of interest. 2009 Independent 29 July (Life section) 6/3 It's used in hospitals to help stop the spread of disease. (b) Without article. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [noun] spreadinga1250 skeltingc1540 diffusion1585 prosemination1611 scatter1642 dissemination1646 radiation1658 dispersion1664 spread1757 distribution1860 dispersal1863 scatteration1892 spreadation1925 1757 Monthly Rev. May 471 The occasion of all the discredit Christianity has fallen under; of all its want of spread and efficacy. 1864 E. A. Parkes Man. Pract. Hygiene i. xvii. 429 The conditions of spread of [yellow fever in a ship] are probably as favourable as in the most crowded city. 1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. II. 89 The disease disregards anatomical boundaries,..the direction of spread being determined..by contiguity. 1929 Times 12 June 16/4 The prevalence and mode of spread of minor epidemics in residential schools. 1958 Nursing (St. John Ambulance Assoc.) vi. 75 Methods of spread of infection... 1. Contact. [etc.]. 2013 Wall St. Jrnl. 16 July a2/4 The Yarnell fire increased in intensity and rate of spread. b. An instance of gradually reaching a wider area or more people, or of becoming prevalent or (more) widely existent, present, known, felt, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [noun] > condition of being > widely, of something immaterial latitude1612 diffusednessa1626 diffusivenessa1631 spread1644 extensiveness1656 worldwideness1890 globality1931 1644 G. Gillespie Serm. preached Mar. 27 6 Insinuating a greater encrease of the Church, and a larger spread of the Gospel, at the conversion of the Jewes. 1675 R. Burthogge Cavsa Dei 389 Of so large a spread then was the knowledge of God. 1732 D. Neal Hist. Puritans I. i. 20 The Translation of the New Testament by Tyndal..had a wonderful Spread among the People. 1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World I. 278 The period of renewed barbarity begun to have an universal spread much about the same time. 1805 R. Southey Let. 6 Apr. in C. C. Southey Life & Corr. R. Southey (1850) II. xi. 324 It would yield either to a general spread of knowledge..or to the unrestrained attacks of infidelity. 1858 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (ed. 2) III. xiii. 113 The security against a spread of the conflagration was to trample it out upon the spot. 1921 Internat. Jrnl. Ethics 31 406 There is no scientific reason forbidding..a spread of polar climatical conditions over the whole globe again. 1949 Mansfield (Ohio) News-Jrnl. 30 Dec. 4/1 As to housing, the forecast is for..a spread of prefabrication, and pre-installed household equipment. 2007 Harvard Mag. Mar. 52/1 The R_o, or average reproductive number of the SARS virus..was high enough to drive a frightening, exponential spread of the disease. 3. a. The process of extending, expanding, or opening out to cover or occupy a larger space; the fact of being so extended, etc.Not always clearly distinguishable from sense 4a.See also lat spread n. at lat n.⁴ ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > [noun] > spreading out > degree of spread1579 1579 A. Munday Mirrour Mutabilitie sig. f The Ensignes spred the battels force forshowes, The horsmen they the ranks haue broke in twain. 1611 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) 679 Though the spred of our too-feeble wings, Scant rayse vs from the ground, they mount aloft Even vp to Heav'n. 1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §676 No Flower hath that kinde of Spread that the Woodbine hath. 1733 W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farming 129 Many and long Roots, which by their circular spread..are more than ordinarily capacitated to receive the fertile Benefits of the..Dung and Stale. 1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 145 These naked shoots.., more aspiring, and with ampler spread, Shall boast new charms. 1821 J. Baillie W. Wallace xxxii, in Metrical Legends 27 Broad grew his breast with ampler spread. 1843 N. P. Willis in New Mirror 11 Nov. Extra 14/1 These little arms, whose restlessness is like the spread of wings. 1905 Bulletin (Sydney) 2 Mar. 17/1 The ends overlapping the ridge are loosely held together with wooden pins, to allow their spread to conform to the roof-angle. 2001 N. Roberts Midnight Bayou (2002) 2 The owl swooped from its perch with a swift spread of wings. b. Tendency to spread or go apart; capacity for spreading or extending. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > [noun] > spreading out > capacity for or tendency to spread1772 1772 C. Hutton Princ. Bridges 53 The thickness of the piers necessary to resist the spread or shoot of any given arch. 1839 J. Millington Elem. Civil Engin. x. 585 So soon as the centring is removed the lateral spread of the arch will come into play. 1885 C. T. Davis Manuf. Leather 558 Skins dressed by this process,..it is claimed, are made soft, pliable, and with elasticity or spread. 1921 Builder's Jrnl. Feb. 44/1 Brick for arches will usually have to be cut or ground to shape... This is not necessary for the ordinary rowlock arch as the spread of the arch is taken up in the thickness of the joint. 1996 C. Melbourne & L. Weekes in J. E. Harding et al. Bridge Managem. III. 260 The ground beams played an active role in restraining the spread of the abutments. c. colloquial. The process of accumulating fat around the abdomen, the development of paunchiness. Originally and chiefly in middle-aged spread: see middle-aged adj. 1b. Cf. sense 17. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > bodily shape or physique > broad shape or physique > [noun] > fat or plump shape or physique pumpkin1680 roundabout1809 middle-aged spread1883 spread1883 1883 Nat. Temperance Mirror Aug. 187/1 What my irrepressible cousin Bob coarsely terms ‘the middle aged spread’, has only not begun because I am one of the lean kine and incline to scragginess rather than to Rubenesque fleshiness. 1980 D. Norden in F. Muir & D. Norden Oh, my Word! 31 The spread has come upon me! Overweight has arrived! 4. a. The degree or extent to which something extends, expands, or opens out to cover or occupy a larger space; the extent, expanse, or superficial area of something.Cf. senses 10a, 10b. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > [noun] > a) dimension(s) > property of having two dimensions > surface extent or area superficialty?a1425 area?a1560 capacity?a1560 superficies1571 content1576 spread1584 continenta1608 containdure1623 surfacea1640 superficiality1690 1584 Counter-poyson 38 As for the number of 7. who is so simple, as not to knowe that the number is to be varied, according to the spreade and greatnesse of the Churches where they are. 1680 E. Tyson Phocaena 15 The breadth 24. the distance between them 42. the spread of the Tayle 100. a1701 H. Maundrell Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) 140 I measur'd one of the largest [trees], and found it..thirty seven yards in the spread of its boughs. 1733 W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farming 119 Raise a Border six or twelve Inches high, according to the spread thereof. 1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxiii. 242 He knew..the spread of every sail..in feet and inches. 1865 J. Cameron Malayan India 171 The trees being of one age are of a uniform height, thickness of trunk, and spread of top. 1907 H. Storey Hunting & Shooting in Ceylon xiv. 232 A fine head of horns which..the steel tape gave as 29 inches, with a grand spread. 1922 Pract. Engineer 17 Aug. 109/1 Suppose it is desired to determine what the spread of a foundation should be, assuming the weight of the engine as 24 tons. 1978 H. M. Rosenberg Solid State (ed. 2) ii. 21 The diffracted beam therefore has a finite angular breadth, or spread. 2008 K. Coyne & E. Knutzen Urban Homestead 76 Make an irrigation basin by forming a little wall of soil in a circle all around the base of the plant, making the circle about the same diameter as the spread of its branches. b. The distance between the tips of the outstretched wings of a bird or aircraft, or between the fingertips of outstretched arms. Cf. span n.¹ 5d. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > birds > parts of or bird defined by > [noun] > wing or wings > expanse or extent of wings ( and tail) clewa1618 sail1759 spread1794 1794 J. Aikin & A. L. Barbauld Evenings at Home IV. 105 They are of a great length and spread of wing. 1894 To-Day 2 171/2 The wings have a spread of twenty yards square. 1909 A. Berget Conquest of Air 188 The spread of the wings is 10·20 metres. 1945 Fortune Mar. 19/2 (advt.) Finally, there's the spread of those long, gull-wings [of Mariner aircraft]. 1979 D. Attenborough Life on Earth xii. 285 A male [orang utan] may stand over 1½ metres tall, have arms with a spread of 2½ metres and weigh a massive 200 kilos. 1987 J. Strong Tabernacle of Israel ii. 80 It appears that the spread of a cherub's wings was reckoned as equal to the whole height of the figure. 2001 J. Ferguson-Lees & D. A. Christie Raptors of World 32 The real spans..should be 89–122 cm and 105–131 cm respectively, with the spread of the very largest females equivalent to 4 feet and 4.3 feet. c. The width of a gemstone considered in proportion to its depth; the width or the surface of the girdle of a brilliant; the width of a perfectly proportioned brilliant of a given weight. Cf. spread adj. 3 and spread brilliant n. at spread adj. Compounds 2. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > gem or precious stone > diamond > [noun] > of specific type of cut > width in proportion to depth spread1813 1813 J. Mawe Treat. Diamonds i. 47 The artist has..to examine carefully, in what direction the stone may be cut, so as to afford the greatest breadth, or spread as it is technically termed, after the flaws, if any, shall have been taken out. 1898 T. Powell Illustr. Home Bk. World's Great Nations 428/1 The rose diamond is the shape given to those stones, the spread of which is too great in proportion to their depth to admit of their being brilliant cut. 1930 W. R. Cattelle Precious Stones 62 Since the trade have found how important it is to have a proper ‘spread’ to the stone..there has been a tendency to demand stones too shallow for the best results. 2011 A. L. Matlins Diamonds (ed. 3) x. 121 If the weight is much greater than the diamond weight should be, based on its spread, then it is not a diamond. †d. U.S. Mechanics. The distance between the centres of parallel cylinders on a steam locomotive. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1885 Amer. Machinist 31 Oct. 4/4 A cross-section drawing was called for to give the spread of the cylinders, to ascertain if they would pass through the tunnel. 1916 Jrnl. Amer. Soc. Mech. Engineers Feb. 133/2 In that way the long overhang of the main pin which results from the wide spread of cylinders would be overcome. 5. U.S. Billiards. A rebound of a cue ball from the object ball at a considerable angle from its former course; a stroke effecting this. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > billiards, pool, or snooker > [noun] > motion of ball kiss1836 spread1838 screw back1869 retrograde1896 topside1904 1838 Bentley's Misc. Dec. 552 His spread is the most magnificent thing I have ever seen, and his straight-hazards are..marvellous. 1858 M. Phelan Game of Billiards (ed. 3) 102 To effect a ‘spread’ it is not necessary to hit the object-ball so far off from the centre as would appear at the first glance. 1885 Davenport (Iowa) Daily Gaz. 21 Nov. 1/5 Vignaux made a terrible draw, nearly the whole length of the table, for an opening shot in his fourth inning and stopped at 32 on an easy spread. 1913 M. Daly Daly's Billiard Bk. iii. 46 Try the same plan for the dead follow and the dead ‘spread’ (wide angle carom). 1999 M. I. Shamos New Illustr. Encycl. Billiards 78/2 Dead spread, a dead ball shot in which the cue ball caroms off the first object ball at an angle of approximately 90 degrees. 6. U.S. Stock Market. A contract combining the option of buying shares of stock within a specified time, at a specified price above that prevailing when the contract is signed, and the option of selling shares of the same stock within the same time, at a specified price below that prevailing when the contract is signed. Cf. spread eagle n. 7a, straddle n. 2a. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > [noun] > specific operations or arrangements > contract combining options within specific time spread eagle1870 spread1878 straddle1883 1878 Washington Post 30 May 3/2 The cheap rates at which puts, straddles and spreads can be bought on all the active stocks is also a source of strength to the market. 1885 Harper's Mag. Nov. 844/1 A ‘straddle’..differs from the ‘spread’ in that the market price at the time of purchase is filled into the latter. 1900 S. A. Nelson ABC of Wall St. 160 Spread. This is a double stock privilege which entitles the holder to the right to deliver or demand a certain amount of stock on specified terms, or grain price differences between different options, or between the same option in different cities, or between the put and call price. 1957 D. T. Clark & B. A. Gottfried Univ. Dict. Business & Finance 332/1 If a stock is selling at 100, a speculator may buy a spread option for $5 per share, with a spread in the buying and selling prices of 5 points up or down. Thus, if the stock later goes below 90 (including the 5 point spread and the 5 point cost of the option), it can be sold at a profit. 1970 H. S. Sloan & A. J. Zurcher Dict. Econ. (ed. 5) 412 Spread, as applied to security trading, two separate options, a put..specifying a price below the prevailing market, and a call..specifying a price above the prevailing market, both options applying to the same security and expiring on the same date. 2003 BusinessWeek 21 July 19 (advt.) Wide-return spreads or fat tails on stocks have already burned out. 7. a. Statistics. The extent of variation, relative to an average value, that is exhibited by the values of a data set.The spread of a given data set is frequently measured using the standard deviation, variance, or interquartile range. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > probability or statistics > [noun] > distribution > variability or spread spread1896 scatter1921 1896 Jrnl. Royal Statist. Soc. 59 393 They measure the spread of each series by means of the difference between the 2nd and 8th deciles. 1927 School Rev. 35 783 If the spread or dispersion is measured by the standard deviation instead of by the range, the same general effect of a smaller spread is observed. 1974 Listener 7 Nov. 595/2 Now there is a more even spread of intelligence and the skew in the graph is at both ends. 2014 P. Kenny Better Business Decisions from Data vii. 70 Some indication of the spread of the data should accompany any quoted average. b. Economics. The difference between two rates or prices. Cf. sense 6. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > [noun] > price difference spread1900 1900 Ann. Amer. Acad. Polit. & Social Sci. 16 133 In all other markets there is a ‘spread’ between the reserve prices on each side, within which superior strength or skill can force one or the other side down to a minimum gain. 1919 A. C. Whitaker Foreign Exchange xii. 369 The spread between the local and the foreign money rates. 1928 Britain's Industr. Future (Liberal Industr. Inq.) iv. xxiv. §7.331 The Linlithgow Committee..came to the conclusion that ‘the spread between the producer's and the consumer's prices is unjustifiably wide’. 1978 N.Y. Times 29 Mar. b2/1 But adding to the rise in farm beef prices is the widening spread between what a cattle raiser gets for a steer and what a roast costs in the supermarket. 2007 N.Y. Mag. 5 Nov. 45/1 Structured investment vehicles (SIVs), a nifty bit of financial engineering that banks use to profit from the spread between short-term debt and long-term debt. c. Sport (originally and chiefly North American). The difference between the number of points, goals, etc., scored by competing teams in a match, esp. a winning margin; the point spread or goal difference in a match. Also: Betting the forecast or expectation of such a difference. Cf. point spread n. at point n.¹ Compounds 2. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > betting > [noun] > forecast of margin of victory spread1944 society > leisure > sport > winning, losing, or scoring > [noun] > gaining points > score > winning margin spread1968 1944 Washington Post 1 Dec. 14/1 The bookies get what they call the ‘2-point spread’, insuring themselves against loss if they balance their books. 1951 Chicago Daily News 17 Jan. 34/3 The former player said he would not know until before the game what the final betting ‘spread’—the difference in the point score—would be. 1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 17 Feb. 39/7 If Canada ties Russians, Swedes beat Czechs—Russia wins gold on goal spread, Canada takes silver... Russia has the best spread—33. 1980 Washington Star 20 Nov. c7 Eagles and Falcons (both 9-2), continue to share the NFL's best record at beating the spreads. 1988 Ice Hockey News Rev. 19 Nov. (Suppl.) 3/1 The brilliant Czech did it again..with a marker which opened up a 2 goal spread in Flyers favour. 1999 Odds On Feb. 11/1 England for the Grand Slam and Scotland to be whitewashed is the verdict, but the early prices suggest little value in either. The value at the moment—on the spreads anyway—look to be Wales at 22–25. Worth a buy. 8. A range, variety, or array of things.For slightly earlier specific use see sense 19. ΚΠ 1939 E. Rath Folk Dance in Educ. v. 17 Finding a spread of choices [of folk dances]..ranging over seven and eight grades. 1973 Science 21 Sept. 1144/1 The actual situation lies somewhere between..two extremes: some..probability must be assigned to a spread of possible answers. 1987 L. Sanneh in J. S. Hawley Saints & Virtues 132 Bits and pieces of information, picked up from a disparate spread of sources, are strung together. 1990 Atlantic Apr. 30/3 Belgians commonly receive twenty-six TV channels, broadcast in a spread of languages. 2012 Campaign 18 May 29 With such a fantastic and eclectic spread, the chances are that some of the answers you're looking for are in here somewhere. II. Something that spreads or is spread, and other concrete senses. †9. Probably: a long oar or sweep. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > rowing apparatus > [noun] > oar > long or large oar swape1592 spread1698 sweep1801 1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 26 These Boats are as large as one of our Ware-Barges,..but padling with Paddles instead of Spreads. 10. a. An expanse or stretch of something.In quot. 1747 a spread-out layer or stream. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > [noun] > spreading out > an expanse of something spacea1382 widenessa1382 continuance1398 field1547 sheet1593 universe1598 main1609 reach1610 expansion1611 extent1627 champaign1656 fetch1662 mass1662 expanse1667 spread1712 run1719 width1733 acre1759 sweep1767 contiguity1785 extension1786 stretch1829 breadths1839 outspread1847 outstretch1858 1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 549. ⁋3 I have got a fine Spread of improveable Lands. 1746 J. Hervey Refl. Flower-garden 26 in Medit. among Tombs Nearer the Houses one perceives a spacious Spread of Branches. 1747 Gentleman's Mag. July 311/2 Which made the corn run in a thin even spread under it. 1824 Examiner 71/2 A dark spread of calm water. 1840 G. Barret Theory & Pract. Water Colour Painting 104 The sky at this time of the afternoon frequently exhibits a tender spread of yellow. 1880 R. D. Blackmore Mary Anerley II. 63 He struck into the gill from a trackless spread of moor. 1883 R. L. Stevenson Silverado Squatters 254 Under the immense spread of the starry heavens. 1915 J. Buchan Salute to Adventurers xx. 283 He..carried a spread of branching antlers like a forest tree. 1973 W. Soyinka Season of Anomy vi. 88 A quick warning from the old man saved Ofeyi from slithering down the sudden moss-covered slope into a spread of water. 1988 M. Moorcock Mother London iv. 267 I'd like to enjoy some spreads of flowers, not these rogue patches. 2008 Weekend Austral. (Nexis) 9 Aug. (Features section) 11 The property sits amid a spread of woodlands in a picturesque valley near the small town of Les Eyzies. b. Sailing. An expanse or display of sails.See also sail-spread n. at sail n.¹ Compounds 1a. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > masts, rigging, or sails > sail > [noun] > amount of sail set spread1798 1798 Sporting Mag. July 180/1 In drifting down before the wind, the great spread of canvas carried by the Nymph helped her much. 1824 Trans. Soc. Arts 42 p. xxviii The supposed advantages of this plan are, the capability of employing with safety a greater spread of sail than usual, and drifting less to leeward. 1850 G. Cupples Green Hand iii. 35/2 The whol spread of her mizen and main canvas shining like gold cloth against the fore. 1889 J. J. Welch Text Bk. Naval Archit. ii. 40 A mastless ship requires less stability than one carrying a large spread of canvas. 1906 Sci. Amer. 6 Oct. 250/2 To stay and hold up to its work the towering spread of canvas on this mast alone calls for no less than thirty shrouds and backstays. 2008 E. Rarick Desperate Passage iii. 182 Woodworth..set a spread of sail, and coasted upriver toward the mountains. c. Geology. A broad, relatively thin sedimentary or alluvial deposit. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > structure of the earth > structural features > thin layer > [noun] flake1577 lamina1794 stratulum1797 sheet1815 sheeting1891 spread1893 1893 Jrnl. Anthropol. Inst. 22 69 The trails of gravel not referrable to river action in subsidiary valleys, ending at their junction with the main valley in a fan-shaped spread of gravel and brick earth. 1924 Proc. Royal Irish Acad. 1921–4 B. 36 271 The whole of Colebrooke Park..is underlain by spreads of morainic and outwash gravel. 1956 A. L. Armstrong in D. L. Linton Sheffield vi. 90 It is from these beds that the sands and gravels of the lower terraces and valley spreads were mainly derived. 1977 Antiquaries Jrnl. 57 187 Some sarsens..could be derived from chalk or Greensand as could the soliflucted spread in the Vale of Pewsey. 2011 A. S. Goudie Nature of Environment (ed. 4) v. 182/2 The presence of great spreads of angular debris..lends support to this idea. d. Originally and chiefly U.S. A ranch, esp. one for raising cattle; a large farm. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping of cattle > [noun] > cattle farm estantion1697 estancia1704 rancho1820 ranchito1829 ranch1831 ganaderia1860 spread1927 1927 W. R. James Cow Country 67 He'd paid a big price for the said spread, and he was lord and master there sure enough. 1947 Trail Riders Bull. Feb. 20/1 I wuz top bronc buster for the Tumblin' L spread. 1966 G. Durrell Two in Bush vi. 186 Harry..took us out to a ‘spread’ not far from Canberra (a tiny little smallholding of some 200,000 acres). 1981 J. Beeching Death of Terrorist iii. 34 He thought of his ranch up in Texas. ‘Not a big spread,’ he said modestly. 2011 D. Maysilles Ducktown Smoke Introd. 3 A septuagenarian farmer with a little spread in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Fannin County, Georgia. 11. a. A top cover for a bed; = bedspread n. Also: a light rug or throw.Chiefly U.S. in early use. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > household linen > bedclothes > [noun] > outer cover coverture?c1225 chalon1301 coverlet1382 coverlida1400 quiltpointc1400 pane1405 counterpointa1475 liggera1483 happing1503 counterpane1626 palampore1676 spread1750 duvet1759 mata1894 suggan1907 eiderdown1950 1750 W. Ellis Country Housewife's Family Compan. ii. 262 The Maid-servants, whenever they suspected any had lain in a Bed that had the Itch, would always in the first Place lay the Sheets open upon the spread, for an Hour, to air and cool. 1837 C. Gilman Recoll. Southern Matron in Southern Rose 18 Feb. 97/2 The bed curtains and spreads were mostly patterns of gorgeous birds and trees. 1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin (U.K. ed.) xx [She would] flourish the sheets and spreads all over the apartment. 1888 Pall Mall Gaz. 1 Nov. 3/2 Each bed..was provided with a feather tick; but the night being warm these spreads were thrown off. 1914 S. Graham With Poor Immigrants to Amer. xiii. 236 As I lay on my spread on the sand,..I saw the sun come sailing through the smoke like a red balloon. 1934 ‘N. West’ Cool Million viii. 61 Betty was exhausted, and immediately fell asleep on the poster bed with its candlewick spread. 1978 Lancs. Life Oct. 141/2 (caption) Serenade blinds..have been designed to co-ordinate with the Nocturne quilt cover..and Cantata curtains and spreads. 2012 C. H. Clark Gypped 42 They take off the spread and fold it,..and turn on the clock radio set to a station that plays Mozart. †b. slang. A shawl. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for head or neck or body > [noun] > shawl toilet1664 shawl1767 wrapper1838 Paisley1849 spread1857 throw1887 1857 ‘Ducange Anglicus’ Vulgar Tongue 20 Spread, a shawl. 1859 J. C. Hotten Dict. Slang 99 Spread, a lady's shawl. 1865 Leaves from Diary Celebrated Burglar 8/2 In the confusion a ‘tog’ or ‘spread’ is sure to change owners. †12. The point at which something spreads. Obsolete. rare. ΚΠ 1778 J. Abercrombie Universal Gardener & Botanist at Pruning Never..trim the stem much higher than the full spread of the head. 1896 Westm. Gaz. 25 July 3/1 A beautiful old orchard is full [of mud] to the spread of the trees' branches. 13. †a. slang. Butter. Cf. earlier spreader n. 4. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dairy produce > butter > [noun] butterOE cow-butterc1000 spreader1610 spread1811 dairy butter1874 flab1923 1811 Lexicon Balatronicum Spread, butter. 1859 G. W. Matsell Vocabulum 84 The cove pinched a keeler of spread, and was pulled foul. 1864 J. C. Hotten Slang Dict. (new ed.) Spread, butter. A term with workmen and schoolboys. b. Originally U.S. Any soft substance suitable for spreading on bread or other food, such as paste or jam, or (now) a substitute for butter.See also cheese spread n. at cheese n.¹ Compounds 2. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > additive > relish > [noun] > spread paste1817 spread1866 fish paste1920 cheese spread1921 sandwich spreadc1938 Marmite1966 1866 Hours at Home Oct. 507/2 He went to a farm-house one day and demanded some ‘spread’, as they call marmalade in that matter-of-fact country. 1886 F. R. Stockton Casting away Mrs. Lecks & Mrs. Aleshine 40 There was some sort of jam left at the bottom, so that the one who gets the last biscuit will have somethin' of a little spread on it. 1918 Dial. Notes 5 121 Spread, jam or sauce that can be spread on bread, etc. ‘Put some spread on for me.’ Pa. c1938 Fortnum & Mason Price List 37/2 Sandwich Spread—per glass 10½d. 1951 Butter, Cheese & Milk Products Jrnl. Mar. 33/1 Is a low fat, low cost dairy spread the answer to the problems of the butter industry? Several butter manufacturers have expressed the belief that a low fat spread which could compete with margarine on a price basis would open new sales outlets for butterfat. 1962 M. Duffy That's how it Was xiii. 107 I had to..mix up some chocolate spread from cocoa, sugar and a little milk. 1972 Daily Tel. 11 Nov. 2/7 There were increases of 3·41 per cent in the prices of jams, honey, and spreads. 1987 E. Ronay Bird's Eye Guide Healthy Eating Out 141 Low-fat spread is available on request. 2014 Times (Nexis) 15 Nov. (Features section) 8 Rowse's honey was declared the most popular breakfast spread. 14. colloquial. A banquet, a feast, a meal, now esp. a lavish one laid out on a table. Cf. earlier spreadation n. N.E.D. (1914) noted: ‘Common from about 1825.’ ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > meal > feast > [noun] farmeOE feasta1200 gesteningc1200 mangerc1390 mangerya1400 junkerya1425 banquet1483 convive1483 gestonyea1500 junketa1500 festine1520 Maundy1533 junketing1577 entertainmenta1616 entertain1620 regalo1622 treatmenta1656 treat1659 regale1670 regality1672 festino1741 spreadation1780 spread1822 blowout1823 tuck-out1823 burst1849 1822 Gentleman's Mag. Jan. 31 Spreads on the grass for the better sort of people. 1824 Gradus ad Cantabrigiam (new ed.) 129 He sits down to a most glorious spread, ordered from the college cook, to be served up in the most swell style possible. 1844 J. T. J. Hewlett Parsons & Widows I. vi. 141 I gave very correct feeds—spreads we used to call them. 1893 H. Vizetelly Glances Back I. xv. 300 He..was a constant attendant at these little spreads. 1913 W. Stevens Let. 7 July (1967) 179 A spread of chicken salad,..watermelon, iced-tea etc. 1979 J. Gardner Nostradamus Traitor xxxv. 165 The womenfolk prepared a great spread of food... ‘Enough food to feed the whole of a Sonderkommando.’ 2003 M. Belson On the Press ii. 81 At Nuneham there was a tremendous spread for dinner, with plenty of lemonade made in a tub. 15. Journalism (originally U.S.). †a. A newspaper. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > communication > journalism > journal > newspaper > [noun] intelligencer1598 courant1621 coranto1624 paper1642 mercury1643 newsletter1665 newspaper1667 slip1688 raga1734 news1738 gazetteer1742 sheet1754 news sheet1841 spread1848 linen-draper1857 newsprint1897 blat1932 linen1955 mimeo newspaper1973 1848 Ladies' Repository Oct. 317/1 Flash Language... Spread, A newspaper. b. An article or advertisement displayed prominently in a newspaper or periodical; spec. printed matter occupying two facing pages. Also figurative: a prominent broadcast item.centre spread, double spread, photo spread, etc.: see the first element. ΘΚΠ society > communication > printing > printed matter > arrangement or appearance of printed matter > [noun] > printed matter on two facing pages spread1877 society > communication > journalism > journal > matter of or for journals > [noun] > article > feature feature1855 spread1877 1877 Harper's Mag. Dec. 50/1 His remarkable ability is best seen when occasion arises for a ‘spread’. 1931 Week-End Rev. 7 Nov. 563/2 The inclusion of a four-page ‘spread’, printed in two colours. 1956 H. Kurnitz Invasion of Privacy xviii. 117 The afternoon papers, and the late radio broadcasts..had given the Morley case a big spread. 1969 ‘A. Glyn’ Dragon Variation viii. 238 You'll give the match a good spread in your papers, won't you, Paul? 2007 Independent on Sunday 13 May (Review Suppl.) 3/2 I had a five-page spread in The Independent. 16. Biology. A specimen or sample prepared for microscopic examination by spreading it on a slide; a smear (smear n. 3b); spec. a squash (squash n.¹ 6b). ΘΚΠ the world > life > biology > laboratory analysis > material > [noun] > sample spread1895 smear1903 squash1942 sonicate1955 stabilate1965 1895 Amer. Jrnl. Med. Sci. 109 65 The spreads should then be stained with Loeffler's alkaline methylene-blue. 1911 Colorado Med. 8 272/2 I consider the slide method for making blood spreads the best. 1963 Stain Technol. 38 284 Heteroploidy was not observed in any of the spreads, unlike those observed in long term cultures of rabbit endothelial cells. 1978 Nature 23 Mar. 325/1 Figure 2 shows the distribution of silver grains in autoradiograms of human metaphase chromosome spreads. 2004 G. Majno & I. Joris Cells, Tissues, & Dis. (ed. 2) iv. 170/2 One or more of the spreads will be perfect, with all the chromosomes separated. 17. colloquial. An accumulation of fat around the abdomen. Originally and chiefly in middle-aged spread: see middle-aged adj. 1b. Cf. sense 3c (earlier). ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > bodily substance > fat > [noun] > round waist spread1911 spare tyre1961 tyre1968 love handle1970 muffin top2003 1911 H. L. Stuart Fenella i. ii. 10 Her homely English figure had what a flippant mind has described as a ‘middle-aged spread’ in its proportions. 1930 Field 29 Nov. 775/2 An older woman..middle-aged, with, possibly, a ‘spread’. 2008 Guardian (Nexis) 17 June 33 Desailly, now moving into middle age with a spread to go with it. 18. Bridge. A hand that can manifestly win all of the remaining tricks. Cf. spread v. 15. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > bridge > [noun] > types of hand rock-crusher1859 chicane1900 yarborough1900 suiter1909 two-suiter1923 spread1929 swing hand1960 1929 M. C. Work Compl. Contract Bridge 245 Spread, a hand which Declarer can show in proof of his ability to win all thirteen tricks. 1964 R. L. Frey & A. F. Truscott Official Encycl. Bridge 339/2 Seven no trump was a spread. 1977 Field 13 Jan. 65/1 Only the duplication of values prevented the contract from being a spread. 1991 G. Thompson et al. Bridge Player's Dict. 107 Spread,..3. A term for an unbeatable contract as in ‘Four spades was a spread’. 19. Geology. An array of seismometers, spec. one used to record data from a shot in a geophysical survey. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > earth sciences > geology > geophysics > [noun] > seismological apparatus > array spread1936 1936 Bull. Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists 20 638 Optimum geophone spreads for reflection surveys. 1945 Geophysics 10 351 To correct for these weathering variations a series of short refraction shots was taken at each recording spread. 1962 Jrnl. Geophysical Res. 67 2852/2 The method used was to keep the geophone spread fixed and to move the shot away from the spread. 1977 A. Hallam Planet Earth 29/1 Large spreads of seismometers have recently been set up, one of the largest being in Norway. 2011 D. G. Price et al. Engin. Geol. vi. 190 Horizontal resolution depends upon the closeness of the spacing of the geophones in the seismic spread. 20. Oil Industry. The total assemblage of men and equipment needed for a particular job, esp. laying a pipeline. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > oil and natural gas recovery equipment > [noun] > total equipment for a job spread1953 1953 Portsmouth (Ohio) Times 16 Dec. 5/2 Fourteen ‘pipeline spreads’ (construction crews) each made up of about 240 men, are laying pipe at the rate of two-tenths of a mile..a day. 1956 Financial Times 15 June 9/2 The construction of the line from Alberta to Winnipeg will be divided into six or seven ‘spreads’ which can proceed simultaneously. 1975 North Sea Background Notes (Brit. Petroleum Co.) 32 The land line was laid in three spreads, two working between the Tay and Cruden Bay and the third from the Tay to Grangemouth. 2012 Daily Oklahoman (Nexis) 11 Jan. Construction of the 1,600-mile pipeline could be broken down into 17 U.S. pipeline spreads, each with 500 workers. 21. U.S. slang. A type of truck trailer with widely spaced axles. rare.See also Ohio spread n. at Ohio n. 3. ΘΚΠ society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > motor lorry, truck, or van > [noun] > truck or lorry > articulated lorry > trailer or types of trailer pole trailer1919 semi-trailer1919 pantech1942 Queen Mary1942 semi1942 tautliner1970 Ohio spread1971 spread1971 tri-axle1971 semi-truck1975 1971 M. Tak Truck Talk 153 Spread, a trailer with a separation greater than four feet between the two rear axles of a tandem trailer. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022). spreadadj. Brit. /sprɛd/, U.S. /sprɛd/ Forms: see spread v. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: English spread , spread v. Etymology: < spread, past participle of spread v. Compare spreaded adj., spreaden adj. Examples that are ambiguous between the passive and the stative adjectival use are treated as uses of the verb: see especially spread v. 2d, 2e, 4e(b), 11, 12b. 1. That has or have been spread, or has or have spread (in various senses of the verb); extended, expanded, displayed, diffused, distributed, moved apart, covered, etc.quick-spread, skin-spread, space-spread, turf-spread, white-spread, world-spread, adjectives: see the first element. See also well-spread adj., widespread adj. a. attributive. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > [adjective] > spread out openc1350 expanded?a1475 spread?c1510 splayeda1547 bredea1550 extended1552 spreaded1567 displayed1578 well-spread1600 outspreada1618 spreaden1620 expansed1628 extent1633 spread-out1644 explicate1661 expatiated1681 patulous1682 expatiate1702 sheeted1797 a-spread1879 ?c1510 tr. Newe Landes & People founde by Kynge of Portyngale sig. C.iii They seke the holy graue to Iherusalem w^t open or spred baners. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Hosea v. A This punyshment wil come vpon you, that are become a snare vnto Myspa, and a spred net vnto the mount of Thabor. 1609 P. Holland tr. Ammianus Marcellinus Rom. Hist. 111 Antoninus..set his course against our State and Common-wealth..even with spred and full sail. 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Penne The spread wings of a bird. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 886 A Bannerd Host Under spread Ensigns marching. View more context for this quotation 1693 C. Mather Wonders Invisible World sig. A8 In so spread a Business, as this. 1708 J. Kersey Dict. Anglo-Britannicum Callithrix, a kind of Ape in Ethiopia, with a long beard, and a spread Tail. 1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison III. i. 5 No, Miss Grandison, said I, laying my spread hand upon the letter. ?1768–9 Encycl. Brit. (1771) I. 204/2 The shape of a spread fan. 1851 Sci. Amer. 20 Sept. 22/2 A longitudinal hollow, or curve..for the purpose of gathering the spread butter towards its middle. 1855 D. T. Ansted in Orr's Circle Sci.: Inorg. Nature 162 Others..occupy evenly spread and little disturbed districts. 1877 R. W. Raymond Statistics Mines & Mining 315 A diverging vein-system..something like the spread fingers of a hand held downward. 1901 E. L. Voynich Jack Raymond ii. 44 When he shut his eyes the tree-tops came back,..and the spread wings of a living soul that had been caged and now was free. 1934 G. A. Reichard Spider Woman vii. 48 I wrap up the blanket in a spread flour sack. 1959 ‘J. R. Macdonald’ Galton Case (1960) xvi. 132 A gesture of his spread hand swept Lemberg into the dust-bin. 2005 Sc. Farmer 14 May (Grassland section) X/3 To gather a generous amount of spread grass into a single swath. b. In predicative use following a modifying adverb or conjoined with an adjective. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [adjective] > spread or diffused diffusec1475 diffused?1570 spread1585 distended1595 squandered1647 disseminated1662 smeared out1931 1585 R. P. tr. D. Ortúñez de Calahorra Second Pt. First Bk. Myrrour of Knighthood xxvi. sig. Qvii^v At such time as thy fame was most spread in the world, fortune hath giuen thee so great a fall. 1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §421 How to make the trees themselves, more tall; more spread; than they use to be. a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1657 (1955) III. 202 This Sect was now wonderfully spread. 1724 R. Hall Obs. Methods Cultivating Hemp & Flax viii. 25 The Frow brings in a Slice of Rye-bread, exceedingly thin spread with Butter. 1744 J. Wilson Synopsis Brit. Plants 240 Parnassia, Grass of Parnassus. The leaves are roundish, and spread in a circle. 1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. viii. 70 Where wilds immeasurably spread, Seem lengthening as I go. 1778 E. M. da Costa Hist. Nat. Testaceorum Brit. 72 The inner or pillar lip is also thick, very spread, and milk white. 1782 F. Burney Cecilia IV. viii. vii. 294 That the affair is somewhat spread..is now not to be helped. 1847 A. Helps Friends in Council I. i. iv. 64 One of the causes sometimes given, that reading is more spread, is a true..one. 1902 Rep. Brit. Assoc. Advancem. Sci. 741 The guardian spirit was obtained in various ways by different American tribes, but the dream apparition was the most widely spread. 1960 E. David French Provinc. Cooking 117 The fish thickly spread with the green butter. 2015 A. Grami Introd. Digital Comm. iv. 170 The random variable is quite spread and it is thus more unpredictable. 2. spec. Laid out with food, crockery, cutlery, and other items for a meal.See also well-spread adj. 3. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > setting table > [adjective] spread1641 well-spread1837 1641 E. Kellett Tricoenium Christi iii. iv. 569 Mensa strata, a spread Table. 1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd ii. 338 Our Saviour lifting up his eyes beheld... A Table richly spred, in regal mode, With dishes pill'd, and meats of noblest sort And savour. 1675 R. Leigh Poems 22 So large the Bounty of those Woods, which give What these spread Boards as largely yet receive! 1714 J. Bellers Ess. towards Improvem. Physick 46 What is the best spread Table to a Sick Man, when a good Stomach finds greater Pleasure in a piece of Bread? 1799 J. Clark Hymns on Var. Subj. 175 See the spread table of our Lord! 1859 H. W. Beecher New Star Papers 316 As you look at the spread table, you say, ‘Oh, how we need this food, but we dare not come and take it.’ 1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles II. xxxvi. 217 The spread supper-table, whereon stood the two full glasses of untasted wine. 2006 Globe & Mail (Toronto) (Nexis) 1 May a14 Savvy with knife and shot was the difference between hunger and a spread table. 3. Designating a gemstone, esp. a brilliant, that has great width, spec. (in later use) greater width and less depth than is ideal. Also more fully †much spread, well spread. In later use also: designating an excessively wide table of a gemstone (table n. 26b).The ideally proportioned brilliant is said to be full substanced; one with more depth and less width than is ideal is known as over-weighted.spread brilliant: see Compounds 2. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > gem or precious stone > [adjective] > cut into facets > specific tabled?1578 spread1676 table-cut1688 star-cut1704 tallow-drop1798 table-faced1853 tallow-cut1855 tallow-topped1865 marquise1903 scissor-cut1935 princess cut1961 1676 London Gaz. No. 1057/4 Lost.., one single Rose Diamond set in a Ring close shankt, and enameled with blew, a fair spread Stone clean and good water. 1677 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 12 899 The Diamonds that are found in it, are very well spred, large stones. 1706 London Gaz. No. 4200/4 The Diamond weighing near 11 Grains, well spread, and of a perfect Water. 1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. sig. 9E The beauty of Brilliants is diminished by their being either over-weighted or spread. 1850 C. Holtzapffel Turning & Mech. Manip. III. 1322 This cut is employed upon such stones as are thin, and large on the surface, or, as it is called, much spread. 1923 Jewelers' Circular 31 Jan. 4 Diamond is fine color, snappy, and well spread. 2009 A. Matlins & A. C. Bonanno Jewelry & Gems (ed. 7) xx. 259 Most people think color and make are the most important considerations when buying a diamond, but if you want a larger stone, you may have to come down several grades in color, or choose a slightly spread stone. 4. Phonetics. Pronounced with the lips drawn out rather than rounded; unrounded. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > vowel > [adjective] > types of openeOE sharp?1533 simple1582 small1599 soft1625 obscurea1637 round1710 slender1755 close1760 wide1824 lowered1836 narrow1844 labialized1856 orinasal1856 central1857 reduced1861 free1864 high1867 low1867 mid1867 mixed1867 rounded1867 unrounded1871 raised1876 unreduced1894 obscured1897 spread1902 lax1909 slack1909 tense1909 centralized1926 flat1934 r-coloured1935 checked1943 1902 H. Sweet Primer of Phonetics (ed. 2) 36 Fan (spread) consonants..are modifications of point and blade consonants. 1965 Language 41 26 The spread phonemes /ī/ and /ēⁱ/ are realized in the back allophones. 1997 Jrnl. Linguistics 33 406 The vowel that surfaces is an identical copy of the spread vowel or glide. Compounds C1. In parasynthetic combinations. spread-kneed adj. ΚΠ 1919 Cosmopolitan Nov. 12/2 Sitting down rather awkwardly and in the spread-kneed fashion he had. 1932 W. Faulkner Light in August vii. 140 McEachern lowered himself stiffly to the top of a feed box, spreadkneed. 1991 Guardian (Nexis) 16 May A spread-kneed stance in a setting rich with SM motifs will not necessarily be interpreted as exploitive sexism. spread-legged adj. ΚΠ 1896 H. L. Tangye In New S. Afr. 379 Sixteen Mashona women, twelve of whom have piccanins on their backs as they work, they being slung, spread-legged, in a cloth on the ample backs of their mothers. 1911 M. T. Daviess Rose of Old Harpeth vi. 175 Stonie came and took a spreadlegged stand before her. 1969 L. Michaels Going Places 21 I stood spread-legged, bolt naked. 2005 Metal Hammer Dec. 69/2 A good spread-legged guitar stance with accompanying hair swirling. spread-lipped adj. ΚΠ 1859 Dublin Univ. Mag. May 540/2 A thick, spread-lipped face, with hard features. 1973 G. W. Turner Stylistics ii. 63 If Australians tend to use spread-lipped vowels.., they perhaps seem matey fellows. 2005 D. Crystal How Lang. Works (2007) 53 In such words as see, the [s] is pronounced with spread lips, anticipating the spread-lipped vowel. spread-winged adj. In the absence of hyphenation and punctuation, it is not certain that quot. 1629 represents this compound. ΚΠ 1629 J. Parkinson Paradisi in Sole 494 The great or sweete Cheruill..hath diuers great and faire spread winged leaues.] 1890 Overland Monthly Oct. 403 Grant that the night-moth whirl and circle above her, And round her chamber the spread-winged beetle hover. 1936 R. Campbell Mithraic Emblems 89 A spread-winged phœnix from its ash The Cross remained against the sky. 2014 Evening Standard (Nexis) 5 Dec. 15 Its logo..a spread-winged eagle perched on a podium. C2. † spread adder n. Obsolete = spreading adder n. at spreading adj. Compounds 2. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > reptiles > order Squamata (lizards and snakes) > suborder Ophidia (snakes) > types of snake > [noun] > family Colubridae > member of genus Heterodon (hog-nose) hognose1737 hog-nosed snake?a1808 spreading adder1836 adder1842 spread head1844 puff adder1882 blowing adder1884 spread adder1902 1880 Atlantic Monthly Feb. 179/2 The deadly and grotesque spread-adder..and these great moccasins of the pools were endowed with no imaginary horrors. 1902 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Apr. 494/2 The spread-adder is one of the nastiest-looking customers. † spread brilliant n. Obsolete a brilliant with a relatively wide table and thin crown. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > gem or precious stone > diamond > [noun] > of specific type of cut table diamond1470 tablet1519 tablet diamond1530 facet diamond1623 rose diamond1638 rose stone1659 rose1678 table stone1678 spread brilliant1727 rosette1861 briolette1865 trap-brilliant1875 1727 Daily Jrnl. 3 Jan. 2/1 (advt.) Lost or mislaid, a Spread Brilliant Ring. 1750 D. Jeffries Treat. Diamonds & Pearls 26 (heading) Of the method of manufacturing, and valuing, spread Brilliants. 1869 R. F. Burton Explor. Highlands Brazil II. 149 A perfectly white and spread brilliant of one carat. 1884 4th Ann. Rep. State Mineralogist (Calif. State Mining Bureau) 167 A stone, wanting in depth, is deficient in brilliancy... Such diamonds are called ‘spread brilliants’. 1924 F. Rolt-Wheeler Gem-hunters x. 335 It was recut accordingly, reduced to one hundred and six carats, and treated as a spread brilliant. † spread charge n. Obsolete rare a charge (charge n. 3a) which scatters on being fired. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > ammunition for firearms > [noun] > charge > scatter charge scatter-charge1881 spread charge1892 scatter load1901 1892 W. W. Greener Breech-loader 279 I have used the spread charge with good results in covert shooting. spread chord n. Music a chord whose notes are sounded (and sustained) in rapid succession, usually from the lowest note to the highest. ΚΠ 1847 Athenæum 23 Jan. 104/3 Getting little beyond command over the arpeggio as representing the spread chord. 1872 Musical Times & Singing Class Circular 15 687/2 The occasional detached chords of a well-directed band little more restrict the voice than do the spread chords of the pianoforte. 1921 F. G. Fidler Handbk. Orchestration ii. i. 53 It is best to confine spread chords to the three upper String parts. 2011 R. Nichols Ravel iii. 79 The spread chords in the right hand evoke bells. spread collar n. a shirt collar with a comparatively wide space between the collar points. ΚΠ 1936 Mason City (Iowa) Globe-Gaz. 27 Oct. 15/5 (heading) Spread collar. The widespread white starched collar is probably the most popular model of all starched collars this fall. 1987 T. Wolfe Bonfire of Vanities xv. 313 Hochswald wore a black serge suit, a white shirt with a spread collar, and a black silk necktie. 2010 Globe & Mail (Canada) (Nexis) 24 Apr. l2 Skinny knots with spread collars on double-breasted suits. spread formation n. American Football any of various arrangements or patterns which make up a spread offence (see spread offence n. (b)). ΚΠ 1909 Anaconda (Montana) Standard 10 Oct. 2/2 Mines' goal was threatened owing largely to Winstanley's 30-yard spin at right end from an Idaho spread formation. 1977 Washington Post (Nexis) 19 May e 1 Woodson, leading Crossland 14-13 late in last week's game, went to its spread formation in hopes of gaining a safer advantage. 2011 H. Long Football for Dummies ii. viii. 129 Still, with all its option and misdirection plays, the spread formation makes for very exciting football. spread glass n. (also (now historical) spread window glass) sheet or cylinder glass, formerly esp. as used for windows; = broad-glass n. at broad adj. and n.¹ Compounds 2. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > glass and glass-like materials > [noun] > glass > sheet glass spread glass1777 sheet glass1805 cylinder-glass1851 1777 N. Brit. Intelligencer 21 May 243/1 A duty of 7s. per cwt. on all materials or metal used in making spread glass. 1790 D. Steel Ship-master's Assist. (ed. 3) xxv. 332 Materials used in making Broad or Spread Window-Glass. 1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 576 Next to it in cheapness of material may be ranked broad or spread window glass. a1864 R. D. Thomson Dict. Chem. (c1865) 262/2 There is an inferior kind of window glass, termed broad or spread glass, made by fluxing soaper's waste, kelp, and sand, but it is less frequently used than formerly. 1977 K. G. Roenke Flat Glass vi. 35 Under the British Excise Regulations of 1835, laws were passed stipulating that no crown, German sheet, broad or ‘spread’ window glass might be made greater than 1/9 (0.111) in. in thickness. 2014 Electro Manufacturing 1 July Tachyon and Tachyon-100G materials use spread glass..to mitigate PCB induced differential skew. spread offence n. North American Sport (a) (Basketball) a strategy in which the offensive players spread out to each of the corners of the offensive half-court with one player in the middle dribbling the ball and occasionally exchanging places with one of the corner players, formerly used to slow or stall the pace of the game; more commonly known as four corners offence; (b) (American Football) a strategy in which the offensive players are spread out horizontally across the field of play, in order to force the defence to defend a larger area.In sense (a) now no longer in general use due to the widespread introduction of the shot clock. ΚΠ 1929 Portsmouth (Ohio) Daily Times 9 Mar. 11/1 All of the Trojan baskets came as a result of the spread offense used in working through the Ironton five-man defense. 1935 Morning Herald (Hagerstown, Maryland) 22 Oct. 8/2 A new spread offense has been adopted by the Naval Academy football squad and likely will be among the maneuvers used when the sailors clash with Notre Dame..next Saturday. 1969 H. E. Larche Techniques Football Coaching iv. 103 The 5-4-2 Defense against a spread offense. 1981 Texas Monthly Mar. 154/2 Taking a 4-point lead with just over twelve minutes to play, Houston paid Lamar the compliment of going to a spread offense—which is to say a delay game. 2014 Hutchinson (Kansas) News 25 Dec. (Sports section) b2/2 They installed an up-tempo, spread offense similar to the one used by Big 12 rivals Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and West Virginia. spread window glass n. see spread glass n. spread spectrum n. Telecommunications the transmission of a signal over a wider bandwidth than is necessary, typically by varying its frequency or phase transition; frequently attributive. ΚΠ 1953 Trans. IRE Professional Group Communications Syst. 1 132/1 The signal acquisition process includes the search for the PN code epoch (for spread-spectrum signals). 1990 InfoWorld 30 Apr. Target ed. S3/2 Like many forms of military and space research, work done on spread-spectrum radio has proved to be applicable in civilian situations. 2005 A. Goldsmith Wireless Communications xiii. 403 Spread spectrum is a technique that increases signal bandwidth beyond the minimum necessary for data communication. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022). spreadv. Brit. /sprɛd/, U.S. /sprɛd/ Inflections: Past tense and past participle spread; Forms: 1. α. early Middle English spert (3rd singular present indicative, perhaps transmission error), Middle English spret (3rd singular present indicative), Middle English–1600s spred, Middle English–1600s spredd, Middle English–1600s spredde, 1500s spredden (archaic). β. early Middle English spradit (3rd singular present indicative), Middle English sparth (3rd singular present indicative, probably transmission error), Middle English sprad, Middle English spradde, Middle English sprat (3rd singular present indicative), Middle English spratt (3rd singular present indicative), 1800s sprade (English regional (north-west midlands)); Scottish pre-1700 spraid. γ. early Middle English spræde (south-west midlands), early Middle English spreat (south-west midlands, 3rd singular present indicative), Middle English spredreþ (3rd singular present indicative, transmission error), Middle English spreyde, Middle English spriede, Middle English–1600s spreade, Middle English–1600s sprede, Middle English–1600s spreede, late Middle English spreteþ (3rd singular present indicative), 1500s–1600s spreed, 1500s– spread; English regional (northern and midlands) 1800s spreath (Yorkshire), 1800s sprede, 1800s spreead, 1800s spreeod (Lancashire), 1800s spreeth (Yorkshire), 1800s spreid, 1800s–1900s spreed; Scottish pre-1700 spreade, pre-1700 sprede, pre-1700 1700s– spread, pre-1700 1800s– spreid, pre-1700 1900s– spreed, 1800s spried. 2. Past tense. α. Middle English sperat (probably transmission error), Middle English spraid, Middle English sprat (perhaps transmission error), Middle English–1600s spradde, late Middle English spradden (transmission error), 1800s spraad (English regional (Yorkshire)), 1800s spraod (English regional (Yorkshire)), 1800s sprod (English regional (north-west midlands) and Irish English), Middle English–1500s (1800s English regional (Yorkshire)) sprade, Middle English–1600s (1800s English regional and archaic) sprad. β. Middle English spreadde, Middle English–1500s sprede, Middle English–1600s spredd, Middle English–1600s spredde, late Middle English sperde (transmission error), 1500s spreed, 1500s–1600s spreade, 1500s– spread, Middle English–1600s (1800s English regional) spred; Scottish pre-1700 spreid, pre-1700 1700s– spread, 1800s spried. γ. Middle English spredede, Middle English spredyd, Middle English 1600s spreded, 1500s spreaded, 1800s spreead (English regional (Lancashire)), 1800s spreeded (English regional (Yorkshire)), 1800s spreidit (Scottish). 3. Past participle. α. Middle English espred, Middle English hispred, Middle English ispred, Middle English ispredde, Middle English sperd (perhaps transmission error), Middle English sprid (northern), Middle English–1500s yspred, Middle English–1600s spredd, Middle English–1600s spredde, Middle English–1600s sprede, Middle English 1600s spreede, Middle English–1600s (1800s–1900s English regional) spreed, 1500s spreadde, 1500s–1600s spreade, 1500s– spread, 1600s yspread (archaic), Middle English–1700s (1800s English regional) spred; Scottish pre-1700 spred, pre-1700 spredde, pre-1700 sprede, pre-1700 1700s spreid, 1700s 1700s– spread, 1900s– spreed. β. Middle English isprad, Middle English spradd, Middle English sprarde (transmission error), Middle English sprat, Middle English ysprad, Middle English yspradde, Middle English ysprade, Middle English–1600s spradde, 1500s isprode, 1500s spraid (Scottish), Middle English–1600s (1800s English regional and archaic) sprad. γ. late Middle English spraden, late Middle English– spredden (now archaic), 1500s–1700s (1800s– nonstandard) spreaden, 1800s spreeden (English regional), 1800s spreiden (Scottish), 1800s spridden (English regional), 1800s–1900s sprodden (English regional (northern and north midlands)). δ. 1500s spredded, 1500s– spreaded (now nonstandard), 1800s spreeded (English regional (Yorkshire)). Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with West Frisian spriede , spriedzje , North Frisian spriad , spreer , Middle Dutch spreden , spreeden , spreiden , spreyen (Dutch spreiden , spreien ), Middle Low German sprēden , spreiden , Old High German spreiten (Middle High German spreiten , German spreiten ), and also ( < Middle Low German) Old Swedish spridha (Swedish sprida ), Old Danish sprede (Danish sprede ) < a Germanic base of uncertain origin. In Old English only prefixed forms of the verb are attested, compare (Northumbrian) gesprǣda to extend (compare y- prefix and quot. OE at sense 4b(a)), and also asprǣdan to extend (compare a- prefix¹), ofersprǣdan overspread v., tōsprǣdan to-spread v.; earlier currency of the unprefixed form is implied by the verbal noun sprǣdung spreading n. (one isolated attestation in Northumbrian: see quot. OE at sense 1). Compare spreaden adj., spreading n.Past participle γ. forms are by analogy with strong verbs with past participles in -en (see -en suffix⁶). The past participle sprodden at γ. forms may reflect analogy with trodden, past participle of tread v. Examples that are ambiguous between the passive and the stative adjectival use are treated here: see especially senses 12b, 11, 2d, 2e, 4e(b). †I. To cause to increase; to beget. 1. transitive. To cause to increase or multiply; to beget. Obsolete.In view of the paucity of early evidence it is difficult to be certain whether this sense represents continuity of usage or, in later use, extension of meaning from other senses. ΘΚΠ the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > multiply or reproduce [verb (transitive)] > cause to spreadOE OE (Northumbrian) [implied in: Liturgical Texts (Durham Ritual) in A. H. Thompson & U. Lindelöf Rituale Ecclesiae Dunelmensis (1927) 109 Institutis tuis quibus propagationem humani generis ordinasti benignus adsiste : settnissvm ðinum ðæm sprædung..mennisces cynnes giendebredades uelrumlice tostond. (at spreading n. 3)]. c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) lxxix. 12 (MED) Þe kinde of Iacob sprad his childer vn-to þe see. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 10684 It was boden in þair ledd, Wit mariage þe folk to sprede. 1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde iii. x. f. 142^v Leauynge their natiue soyle, they haue spredde their generation so farre lyke a pestiferous contagion. 1624 T. Heywood Γυναικεῖον i. 49 Young Epaphus..To Phaeton objects that he was bred Of mortal straine, and not divinelie spred. II. Senses with main emphasis on opening out or extending something. 2. a. To open out (something) so as to extend its surface area, width, or length; to stretch or draw out (a cloth, etc.) so as to display it more or less fully; to lay out so as to cover or occupy some space. (a) transitive. With prepositional phrase indicating general location, or (less commonly) without construction. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > extend [verb (transitive)] > spread (something) out or open abredeeOE bredeOE stretcha1000 to-spreada1000 openOE spreadc1175 displayc1320 to let outc1380 to open outc1384 outspreada1400 spald?a1400 splayc1402 expand?a1475 to lay along1483 speld?a1500 skail1513 to set abroad1526 to lay abroad1530 flarec1550 bespread1557 to set out1573 dispread1590 explaina1600 expanse1600 dispack1605 splat1615 dispand1656 extend1676 flat1709 spelder1710 spreadeagle1829 c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 1015 Witt tu þatt an waȝhe rifft Wass spredd fra wah to waȝhe. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 610 Seoððen he nam þe hude..of þare hinde. Bi-foren þan wefede he heo spradde. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 37 (MED) No þing schulde be sprad vnder [L. substernere] hem whan þey schulde slepe. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 61 But þe Romayns wyfes..wente wiþ hir heer i-sprad. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 117 Almerle his banere sprad, & oþer barons mo. c1400 Life St. Alexius (Trin. Oxf.) (1878) l. 460 (MED) Þat writ anon he gan sprede, And by-fore hem alle rede. a1500 (?a1390) J. Mirk Festial (Gough) (1905) 115 Wherfor mony..spradden cloþys in þe way. 1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier Cornelia i. 74 The golden Sunne, where ere he driue His glittring Chariot, findes our Ensignes spred. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 94 Thair heid thay laid vpon..a groffe seck spred vndir thame. c1600 Wriothesley's Chron. Eng. (1875) I. 21 Their was a raye cloath, blew, spreed from the highe desses of the Kinges Benche unto the high alter of Westminster. 1652 M. Nedham tr. J. Selden Of Dominion of Sea 97 To have..Nets spread between stakes driven into the Sea. a1661 R. Bargrave Trav. Diary (1999) 72 Our Carpetts spread under a Shady tree, beside a Fountaine of delicat water. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 133 Spiders in the Vault, their snary Webs have spred . View more context for this quotation 1766 T. H. Croker et al. Compl. Dict. Arts & Sci. III. at Woolen Manufactory To beat the wool..is to spread it on a hurdle, and to open its texture by whipping it with switches. 1823 F. Clissold Narr. Ascent Mont Blanc 22 A soft breath of wind spread its folds, and floated it gently in the air. 1849 A. H. Layard Nineveh & Remains I. i. ix. 281 Upon carpets spread under an arbour, formed by a wide-spreading vine. 1881 Cent. Mag. Nov. 17/2 Facing the sunset stood many grave, white-turbaned men.., a small prayer-rug spread before each. 1920 E. Ferber Half Portions iv. 140 Some day they were going to spread a fine red carpet for her to tread upon. 1950 P. Tempest Lag's Lexicon 183 Safety net, the steel nets spread across the hall, from landing to landing on the first floor. 2011 C. Moran How to be Woman (2012) v. 98 A lady must sit down on a spare square of grass, taking care to spread her skirts about her. (b) transitive. With prepositional phrase indicating the space covered or occupied, as with on, over, upon. ΚΠ a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 370) (1850) 4 Kings viii. 15 He toke an couerlyte,..and spradde vpon his face. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Num. iv. B They shal..sprede a clothe of scarlet ouer it. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Num. iv. B They shal sprede a couerynge of doo skynnes theron. 1566 J. Barthlet Pedegrewe Heretiques f. 42 They..vsed at certayne prescribed times to spred a cloth vpon a stole, and therevpon to set certayne great Loanes. 1611 Bible (King James) Isaiah xxv. 7 He wil destroy..the vaile that is spread ouer all nations. View more context for this quotation 1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey iv. 227 These two did spread a Turkie carpet on the rocke, and on that a table-cloth. 1696 E. Phillips New World of Words (new ed.) Toilet, a kind of Table cloth, or Carpet of Silk, Sattins, Velvet or Tissue, spread upon a Table in a Bed-chamber. 1746 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Satires ii. iv. 102 What!..on foul couches Tyrian carpets spread? 1768 T. Gray Fatal Sisters in Poems 81 Gondula, and Geira, spread O'er the youthful king your shield. 1796 Agatha III. i. 5 His sister put down her work, and spreading a coarse but clean cloth on the table, assisted her mother in the preparations for supper. 1837 P. Keith Bot. Lexicon 399 Each membrane represents a bag or sac, without any opening, spread upon the organs. 1873 Appletons' Jrnl. 13 Dec. 756/2 We spread our mantas (rugs) on the sandy bank. 1902 R. Bagot Donna Diana xvii. 335 He spread the newspaper on the table before him. 1936 M. Mitchell Gone with the Wind i. i. 3 Her new..dress spread its twelve yards of billowing material over her hoops. 2010 Los Angeles Times (Nexis) 22 Apr. e4 Paper was spread over a table in a darkroom. (c) transitive. With abroad (now archaic, see also abroad adv. 1a), forth (now literary), out, up (rare). ΚΠ a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 6891 (MED) Hire kertell and hire mantel eke Abrod upon his bed he spredde. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lii. 176 I spred abrode a towel on the grene grasse. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Deut. xxii. C They shal sprede out the clothe before the Elders of the cite. 1539 J. Gough tr. J. Le Maire Abbreuyacyon Gen. Councellys sig. D.i Put on your armyes & sprede forth your standardes and Baners. 1634 A. Warwick Spare-minutes (ed. 2) ii. 8 When I see the Larker's day-net spread out in a faire morning. 1674 H. Oldenburg Let. 21 Dec. in Corr. (1977) XI. 149 Suratta-Pigeons, sprightly, and with extraordinary broad Tails, which they spread out almost Peacock like. 1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 31 They spread you out a large napkin..upon the said benches. 1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. iii. vi. 64 We spread abroad the Flaps of our Coats. 1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 266 A third [ship] without any Colours spread out. 1777 in Philos. Trans. 1778 (Royal Soc.) (1779) 68 115 The leather is spread out smooth. 1826 J. Marshman tr. F. C. G. Schrœter Dict. Bhotanta Lang. 310/2 To spread forth cloth or linen in the sun. 1832 J. P. Kennedy Swallow Barn I. xv. 155 With the large canvass mill-bags spread out for saddles. 1840 E. Leslie House-bk. 76 When the tail has thus fallen, spread it up over the whole, smoothly and evenly, to preserve the body and sleeves from being crushed. 1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirlaugh I. 236 When the net-pullers were arranged in proper order, and the net itself spread out, the low bell..began to toll deeply. 1920 U.S. Naval Med. Bull. 14 597 The bedding was spread abroad every day to air. 1961 Motor Boating May 162/2 Our sleeping bags were spread out to dry in the sun. 2011 B. L. Visotzky Sage Tales xv. 130 He took a prostitute by the hand,..spread forth a Torah scroll, and committed a transgression upon it. (d) transitive. With open. ΚΠ 1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 267 Shee fals to mending what was amisse [with the nets], to vnwind, spred open, & to set them again in due order. 1660 J. Harding tr. B. Valentine Triumphant Chariot Antimony 131 Spread open your Nets discreetly & carefully. a1727 I. Newton Observ. Prophecies Daniel (1733) ii. ii. 269 Ezekiel's eating a roll or book spread open before him. 1772 Direct. Raising Flax 14 Women, boys, and girls, should be close employed to spread open the beets. 1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. To Spelder, to split, to spread open; as, to spelder a fish, to open it up for being dried. 1887 W. D. Parish & W. F. Shaw Dict. Kentish Dial. Gambrel or Gamblestick, a stick used to spread open and hang up a pig or other slaughtered animal. 1929 Pop. Sci. Monthly Feb. 121/1 Cut a piece of old inner tube lengthwise and spread it open, flat and straight, upon a board. 1985 C. S. Ward Anaesthetic Equipm. (ed. 2) ix. 187/2 The Braun modification of the McKesson inhaler..has a metal stiffener inside to spread it open and prevent it from pinching the nose. 2013 E. Lange Dead Ends (2014) xxxv. 319 Billy followed me out of the car and spread the atlas open on the bonnet. b. transitive. spec. Sailing. To put up (a sail) in a position to catch the wind; to unfurl, to set. Also with abroad (now archaic), out, †up.See also to spread a large (full, small) clew at clew n. 7a. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of sails, spars, or rigging > carry specific amount of sail [verb (transitive)] > set or spread (sails) spreadc1325 seta1400 tilla1665 c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 2828 Hor seiles hii spredeþ in þe se & hider hii comeþ iwis. ?a1425 (?a1350) T. Castleford Chron. (1940) l. 25543 (MED) Þe mariners..sprede þar vaile..on cees flode. 1490 W. Caxton tr. Boke yf Eneydos xxi. sig. Fij Theire hyghe saylles..alle spred abrode ayenst the wyndes. 1561 J. Heywood tr. Seneca Hercules Furens ii. sig. F5 Where before y^t ships full sails spred out is worne a pathe for Sarmates wyld to go. 1576 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent 99 They shall spread their sayles to goe towards those partes that the King intendeth. 1581 R. Madoxe Learned Godly Serm. sig. a.v^v Better spread vp a Canuase sheete, then to be quite without a sayle. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias i. xxviii. f. 71 The whole Fleete hauing wayed, did then begin to cut and spread their sayles. 1617 Fight at Sea sig. A3 The first of them booning [perhaps read spooning] by himselfe before the winde, with..all his sailes gallantly spred abroad. a1626 W. Rowley New Wonder (1632) iv. 61 Spred up a lofty sayle As proudly as the best. 1640 R. Brathwait Two Lancs. Lovers xxix. 234 The Mariners hasten me, so as I must contract my lines while they spread out their Sayles. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis vi, in tr. Virgil Wks. 374 He spreads his Canvas, with his Pole he steers. a1721 M. Prior Charles & Clenard in Dialogues of Dead (1907) 216 A large Ship going out of Port, Charles, with her Sails all spread. a1732 T. Boston Crook in Lot (1770) 100 Mariners spread out the sails when the wind begins to blow. 1762 W. Falconer Shipwreck ii. 37 (note) The head-sails or foremost sails are spread abroad, so that the whole force of the wind is exerted on the Ship's fore-part. 1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward III. ii. 37 Not a French banner has been borne down, not a sail spread from England. 1836 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 39 439 [She] spread out her white canvass to the freshening breeze. 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. at Cloth When a ship has broad sails they say she spreads much cloth. 1875 Ld. Neaves Songs & Verses (ed. 4) 80 The skiff, and the lofty three-master, Spread abroad their white sail To each varying gale. 1910 Munsey's Mag. Feb. 733/1 The clumsy anchor was hauled home, the broad sail spread to the western breeze. 1952 Motor Boating Oct. 37/1 The sails are simply spread out and the boat is allowed to run along. 1996 P. O'Brian Yellow Admiral v. 110 Course and mizen topsail was all she could spread. c. transitive. figurative and in figurative contexts. ΚΠ c1390 Vision St. Paul (Vernon) in C. Horstmann Minor Poems Vernon MS (1892) i. 257 His owne cha[r]tre haþ he rad Þat his synnes were Inne I-sprad. c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Katherine (Arun. 396) (1893) v. l. 1824 Spreede me in thi mercy, lete me neuere falle In to myn enemyes handes. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. cii^v Holy charite..dilateth and spredeth the hert of man or woman. ?1551 A. Bacon tr. B. Ochino 14 Serm. xi. sig. G.i So spredeth he the vaile of ignoraunce ouer the herte of the reprobate. 1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (lxxi. 19) Our mindes must be spredded out..to conceive y^e largenes of it. 1657 T. Aylesbury Treat. Confession of Sinne vii. 128 All sins are not so necessarily to be spread before the Priest. 1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1147 Invocate his aid.., spread before him How highly it concerns his glory now To [etc.] . View more context for this quotation 1715 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad I. i. 65 A sudden Night he spread, And gloomy Darkness roll'd around his Head. 1780 Mirror No. 101 The toils which her own imagination, and the art of Marlow, had spread for her. 1782 W. Cowper Truth in Poems 73 Man on the dubious waves of error toss'd,..Spreads all his canvass. 1816 W. Scott Antiquary I. viii. 184 She has spread out that vile pennon or banner of womankind..to allure her votaries to death and headlong ruin. 1820 W. Scott Monastery I. ix^. 290 I should have spread my mantle over the frailties of my spiritual father. 1827 J. Bentham Rationale Judicial Evid.* V. ix. iii. iv. 123 It is not for the purpose of advocating..that these remarkable cases are spread upon the carpet. 1849 J. C. Hare Serm. Preacht Herstmonceux Church II. 119 The veil which is still spread out before the clearest-sighted eyes. 1865 P. Brooks Life & Death Abraham Lincoln 23 He spread before us the love and fear of God just in that shape in which we need them most. 1882 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate vi. 15/1 The sky spread out a boundless space of deepest blue. 1886 Cornhill Mag. July 272 Every well-thinking mother in Belgravia with..a marriageable daughter had spread her nets abroad for Joseph Euston. 1914 J. C. Van Dyke Berlin, Dresden: Crit. Notes on Kaiser-Friedrich Museum 177 The brush is rasping, the surface unpleasant... The foliage spread against the sky, and the sheep, illustrate this. 1917 T. S. Eliot Love Song J. Alfred Prufrock in Prufrock & Other Observ. 9 The evening is spread out against the sky Like a patient etherized upon a table. 2001 N. A. Bourke Bone Flute (2004) 98 Who can remember what it is like to be a child or an old woman—with the whole future or past of a life spread before you—and say no to life? d. transitive. To display as an extensive geographical feature. Also with abroad (now archaic), around (rare), forth (now literary), out. Usually in passive. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > extend [verb (transitive)] > spread (something) out or open > in wide extension spread1560 1560 J. Heywood tr. Seneca Thyestes iv. sig. Liiii^v Lythe Sparta here, and Arges, that hath bred So wycked brethern? and the grounde of Corinth liyng spred Betwene the seas? 1600 E. Fairfax tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne vi. xxii. 98 A goodly plaine displayed wide and broad, Betweene the citie and the campe was sprad. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. ii. 676 Nature having removed the hils out of the way on both sides,..hath spred beneath them a most beautifull pleasant vale. 1611 Bible (King James) Num. xxiv. 6 As the valleyes are they spread forth, as gardens by the riuer side. View more context for this quotation 1695 E. Gibson tr. W. Camden Britannia 680 The heart of the County, where nature..hath spread out a most pleasant vale. 1764 O. Goldsmith Traveller 21 Where wild Oswego spreads her swamps around. 1792 W. Bartram Trav. N. & S. Carolina (new ed.) iii. v. 375 There are extensive cane brakes or cane meadows spread abroad round about. 1807 J. Barlow Columbiad i. 32 He saw, thro' central zones, the winding shore Spread the deep Gulph. 1837 W. Irving Adventures Capt. Bonneville I. viii. 159 A prospect, between distant mountains, of the lava plains of Snake river, dimly spread forth like a sleeping ocean below. 1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) IV. xxxiv. 345 The Euxine spread its waters before their eyes. 1875 J. S. C. Abbott Hist. State of Ohio i. 30 They reached the summit of the most westernly ridge, and gazed..upon the Eden-like beauty of the scene which was spread out before them. 1889 S. Langdon Appeal to Serpent i. 12 The magnificent vision which lay spread beneath when the great city came up close to the ‘holy mountain’ itself. 1900 Appalachia 9 137 The waste that has been worn from the valleys may be seen spread forth in extensive piedmont fluviatile plains. 1937 R. Montgomery Yellow Eyes v. 66 He considered the domain spread below as his kingdom. 1950 F. Maclean Escape to Adventure 374 Serbia was spread out before us in the sunshine. 1992 W. Steger & J. Bowermaster Crossing Antarctica Prologue 12 The prominent color of the landscape spread below was white. e. transitive. To make flat and thin by or as by hammering. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > condition of being broad in relation to thickness > make broad in relation to thickness [verb (transitive)] drive?a1475 flat1651 flatten1728 smooth1859 spread1859 pancake1879 1859 New Amer. Cycl. VIII. 352/1 In about 20 minutes' beating the gold is spread to the size of the leaves, covering 16 square inches in place of one inch. 1889 P. N. Hasluck Model Engineer's Handybk. 129 Small drills..are generally made by filing the round steel wire..and then spreading the small end with a single blow from a..hammer. 1926 School Arts Oct. 97/1 The points [of the eyelets] may be spread with a center punch and flattened with a hammer. 2003 B. Russell Essent. G.C.S.E. Design & Technol.: Resistant Materials 45 Malleability—the ability to be easily pressed, spread and hammered into shapes. 3. a. To send out from itself (parts, an emanation, etc.) in various directions so as to cover or occupy a larger space. Also figurative and in figurative contexts. (a) transitive. With adverb or †prepositional phrase reinforcing the sense, as about, abroad (now archaic), around, forth (now literary), out.With the prepositional phrase in quot. a1225 compare on length and brede at brede n.² Phrases 2. ΚΠ a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 45 Carite sprat his bowes on bræde and on lengðe swiðe ferr. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. vi. 13 It shal be in to shewyng..as an oek, that spredeth out his braunches [a1425 L.V. spredith abrood hise boowis]. a1425 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Galba) l. 27877 (MED) Glotony and dronkinhede, ful mani branches out þai sprede. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. ij^v/1 All the sterres shal fall fro the heuen & shal sprede out Rayes of fyr. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 110 In the dayes of this Innocent, heresie..beganne to rise vp very high, and to spreade forth his braunches abroade. 1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §493 Mary-golds..doe open or spread their Leaues abroad, when the Sunne shineth serene and faire. 1645 E. Reynolds Israels Prayer iii. v. 40 He promiseth that the Church should spread forth her branches, and fill the earth. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 218 Her..dishevel'd Hair,..widely spread Ambrosial Scents around. 1709 A. Pope Chaucer's January & May in Poet. Misc.: 6th Pt. 205 A Crystal Fountain spreads its Streams around. 1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. at Hypnum The branches of the Hypnums are usually spread about upon the ground. 1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth VIII. 193 The coral-plants..often spread out a broad surface like a fan. 1792 W. Bartram Trav. N. & S. Carolina (new ed.) i. v. 50 The fulgid sun-beams spread abroad their animating light. 1793 Nat. Hist. Birds, Fish, Insects & Reptiles V. 385 He observed it..to spread forth a number of ramifications, each terminated by a flowery petal. 1825 W. Scott Betrothed viii, in Tales Crusaders I. 134 The morning light was scarce fully spread abroad. 1897 ‘M. Twain’ Following Equator xxi. 209 The eucalyptus trees..spread forth their lanky limbs. 1905 R. A. Freeman Golden Pool xxvi. 311 The slender trunks and branches of the great trees..spread abroad their leafy canopies. 1963 A. B. Mickelsen Interpreting Bible ix. 205 He wanted this vine to spread forth its branches and turn them towards him. 1998 Victorian Soc. Jrnl. 1997 8/1 Lastrea montana..spread around their delicious fragrance. 2011 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 4 Jan. d3/4 (caption) Spaghetti worms..are usually mostly hidden except for their tentacles, which they spread out to trap the small particles that they feed on. (b) transitive. Simply, or with other adverbs and prepositional phrases. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [verb (transitive)] to-spreada1000 spread?c1225 sowc1350 to-scattera1382 diffund?a1425 dilate1430 disparklec1449 diffuse?a1475 provulgate1535 disperse1576 distract1600 disseminate1603 protracta1658 unroll1813 the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [verb (transitive)] > from a main source or centre spread?c1225 disperse1555 radiate1786 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 293 Þe soðe sunne..wes for þi itoȝen anhech..for to spreaden overal hate luue gleames. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Iiii Than grace spredeth her beames, that all the soule of man is bryght as a lanterne. 1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus at Pando The elme spreadeth the branches or boughes. 1618 W. Lawson New Orchard & Garden viii. 24 Looke how far a tree spreads his boughs aboue, so farre doth he put his roots vnder the earth. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 643 Pleasant the Sun When first on this delightful Land he spreads His orient Beams. View more context for this quotation 1781 W. Cowper Retirem. 422 The stream that spreads Its cooling vapour o'er the dewy meads. 1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth ii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 48 A good fire, with the assistance of a blazing lamp, spread light and cheerfulness through the apartment. 1861 ‘G. Eliot’ Silas Marner ii. 26 The little light he possessed spread its beams so narrowly, that [etc.]. 1938 D. T. Suzuki Zen Buddhism & Infl. Japanese Culture ii. iii. 247 The Japanese species of the pine known as matsu generally spreads its branches irregularly. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy xxx. 186 The light shifted, spreading shafts like a Japanese fan. 2007 New Yorker 12 Mar. 71/3 An ash ripe with ash keys spreads its canopy across the two rivers. b. transitive. To make larger or wider, to extend outwards, to expand. Also with †abroad, out, †up. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (transitive)] broada1250 room?1316 enlargec1380 largea1382 magnifya1382 alargec1384 spreada1387 amplify1432 brede1440 expanse1477 ampliatea1513 dilate1528 propagate1548 widen1566 explicate1578 expatiate1603 diduce1605 engross?1611 dilatate1613 biggen1643 promote1652 intend1658 expand1665 to run out1683 amplificate1731 broaden1744 outstretcha1758 largen1869 big1884 a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 399 He bulde newe citees..and sprad þe endes of his kyngdom wydder þan dede his fader. a1425 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (Pierpont Morgan) xvii. viii The beste [Amomum] is þat, þat is..sprad up on reed sprayes. a1450 ( tr. Vegetius De Re Militari (Douce) f. 11^v Þe puple of Rome..han sprad [v.r. sprat] abrood hir empire. 1483 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 89074) (1881) 356 To Sprede oute, dilatare, distendere. a1500 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Rawl.) (1896) 91 The Pope..graunted the kynge, that he sholde into Irland wende, forto..sprede the termys of holy church. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iii. vi. 132 Scilla..spredand hyr mouth..To sowk the schippys amang rowkis. 1544 A. Cope Hist. Anniball & Scipio liv. f. 104^v In this ordre they wente forwardes, spreadynge theyr wynges, and makynge a great bosome in the myddell of theyr hoste. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 147 To spred the boundes of that Jmpire baith braid and wyde. 1653 R. Austen Treat. Fruit-trees 57 The [fig] trees must be set against a South wall, and be spread up with nayles, and Leathers. 1659 R. P. tr. D. Petau Hist. World vi. xiii. 237 He beat the Romans,..and spread his borders unto the River Sumina. 1736 Universal Hist. I. i. vi. 393 This famous emporium was never of very great bigness. It could spread out its walls no farther than the margin of the island. 1759 D. Mallet Wks. (new ed.) III. 23 The deep, Thro all her swelling waves, from pole to pole, Shall spread the boundless empire of thy sons. 1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna vi. xlv. 150 When the earth..Shook with the sullen thunder, he would spread His nostrils to the blast. 1877 A. T. Wirgman Thoughts Harmony between Beatitudes & Lord's Prayer 20 The humble fishers of Galilee [were chosen] to..spread the borders of an Everlasting Kingdom. 1882 Amer. Church Rev. July 50 Spreading its borders, it soon embraced the Persian Empire. 1986 I. Wedde Symmes Hole (1988) 211 The low-water reek of seaweeds and washed-up bush wrack—tart savours that spread his nostrils jaded from the greasy beach. 1999 R. Gellis Mortal Bane (2001) 54 The pressure also spread the edge of the seal a tiny bit. c. transitive. To thrust, press, or pull (walls, sides, etc.) away from each other. Also with apart, out. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > inclination > divergence > thrust apart [verb (transitive)] spread1733 1733 W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farming 111 Lay, chamber, and spread their Roots, so that the Fibres might not touch one another. 1753 H. Talbot Let. in Eighteenth-cent. Corr. (1910) xi. 302 The length and Height of the Roof have spread the Walls, tho' very thick. 1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §274 The whole would lie upon the ledges like a single stone, without any tendency to spread the walls. 1853 L. D. Gould Amer. House Carpenter's & Joiner's Assistant 25 All gable-ended roofs have a tendency to spread out the walls. 1868 Brit. Jrnl. Dental Sci. 11 261 I cut the plaster model into three pieces... Spread the sides till the three teeth were admitted in front. 1872 Official Gaz (U.S. Patent Office) 12 Nov. 543/1 To spread apart the sides of the slot in a knitting-machine needle. 1899 P. N. Hasluck Smiths' Work vii. 109 The flatting of the inner face a..has a tendency to spread the edges. 1904 Munic. Engin. Apr. 240/1 The thrust of the cement arches spread the beams or the walls sufficiently to permit the concrete to fall through. 1921 Machinery July 1016/1 The forcing of the brass into position tends to spread the sides of the box. 1944 Amer. Jrnl. Nursing 44 961/1 To..put his bare hands on the skin adjacent to the wound in order to spread the edges and obtain a better view of its depth. 1973 G. E. Burcaw Saxon House 41 Another problem..is how to keep the roof from spreading the walls out. 2001 J. Blurton Scenery i. xiii. 127/2 The down-weight of the roof tends to spread the walls apart. 4. spec. a. transitive. To draw or stretch out (a person's limbs or body, or a person) as a punishment or torture. Also with out.Chiefly in religious language, in the context of the crucifixion of Jesus. ΘΚΠ society > authority > punishment > torture > [verb (transitive)] > on the rack spread?c1225 fordrawc1380 enginec1405 rack?a1439 stentc1480 streekc1480 draw1481 brake1530 excarnificate1570 excruciate1570 stretch1585 to break on the torture1598 distend1599 tenter1615 tousea1616 tympanize1647 the world > space > relative position > posture > action or fact of stretching body > stretch [verb (transitive)] > a person, in punishment or torture spread?c1225 straina1400 straightc1400 streekc1480 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 286 His leoue licome þe wes isprad on rode. a1250 Ureisun ure Louerde (Lamb.) in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 185 Hwi nam ich in þin earmes..swa istrahte and isprad on rode. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 16668 Þai..ledd him þan to þe rode tre, and þar-on þai him spred. c1480 (a1400) St. Andrew 410 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 75 Gyf þat I dred þe croice, quhare-in criste wes spred, þe Ioy of It I na prechit ȝow. a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 266 in Poems (1981) 141 Turnand a quhele.., And on it spred a man hecht Ixione. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. UUUi^v Remembre his extension..on the crosse. And consyder, howe mekely he spred hymselfe on the same. 1526 R. Whitford tr. Martiloge f. xcix So were they sprad vpon a gredyren w^t hote coles & broyled. 1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 249 The mother se her sonne cruelly spredde on the crosse. 1620 T. Matthew tr. St. John of Avila Audi Filia lxxvii. 391 They commaunded him, to spread himselfe vpon the Crosse. 1624 A. Darcie tr. Originall of Idolatries xvii. 71 The Masse-Priest..stretcheth out his armes, to delineate Christ spred vpon the Crosse. 1693 T. Urquhart & P. A. Motteux tr. F. Rabelais 3rd Bk. Wks. viii. 71 The Noble Valentin Viardiere, whom I found at Nancie..spread out upon a Table after the manner of a Spanish Cloak. 1696 B. Keach Banquetting-house (new ed.) xxxv. 42 On the Cross spread while thus he bled. 1840 T. C. Haliburton Clockmaker 3rd Ser. xi. 153 Lord! how she'll kick and squeell when I spread her out on the close-horse. 1858 C. Kingsley Andromeda 114 They dragged me back From that last kiss, and spread me on the cross. 1868 E. Bulwer-Lytton Chrons. & Characters I. 178 Her glance Fell casual on the conscious countenance Of that white Christ upon the black cross spread. 1917 T. R. Glover Jesus of Hist. iv. 67 They would take a human being, spread him out on a cross on the ground, drive nails through his hands and feet. 1973 Slavic & East European Jrnl. 17 7 His arms spread in the form of a cross, he was pinned to the altar of St. Alban by the spear in his side. 2012 D. Young Eng. Seed 349 Johnson was spread on a wheel and then Longman with ghoulish relish broke the man's arms and legs with an iron bar. b. To extend outwards (the hands or arms, feet, fingers or toes, legs or thighs, etc.) from one's body so that they or their parts are wide apart; to move (one's limbs, etc.) far away from each other, to stretch out and separate of one's own volition (cf. sense 4a). In early use frequently: †to extend (the hands) to or towards another person (obsolete). Also figurative and in figurative contexts.Of a woman spreading her legs or thighs, often implying sexual intercourse: cf. to open one's legs (to someone) at open v. 4d. (a) transitive. Without reinforcing adverb. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > posture > action or fact of stretching body > stretch [verb (transitive)] > specific part of body reacheOE stretcha1000 to-spreada1000 warpa1225 spreada1275 putc1390 straightc1400 to lay forthc1420 outstretcha1425 tillc1540 extend1611 to rax out1622 to stick out1663 overreach1890 OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Matt. xii. 13 Tunc ait homini extende manum tuam et extendit et restituta est sanitati sicut altera : ða cueð to menn geðen uel gespræd hond ðin & geðenede & geedniuad wæs to hælo suæ ðiu oðra uel oðer hond.] a1275 St. Margaret (Trin. Cambr.) l. 268 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) 98 Spred þin hond ant nym my swerd. c1275 Kentish Serm. in J. Hall Select. Early Middle Eng. (1920) I. 218 Ure lord him seide and spredde his hond, and tok his lepre. c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 95 And oþer he refte him hors or wede, Or made him sone handes sprede. a1425 (a1396) R. Maidstone Paraphr. Seven Penitential Psalms (BL Add. 39574) l. 881 in M. Day Wheatley MS (1921) 56 To þee myn hondis, Lord, I spradde. a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) cxlii. §6. 474 I spred my hend till the. a1545 Now synge We ix, in J. Skelton Poet. Wks. (1843) I. 146 I hold my armes abrode, The to receyue redy isprode. 1612 J. Smith Map of Virginia 14 We call them flying squirrels, because spreading their legs, and so stretching the largenesse of their skins that they haue bin seene to fly 30 or 40 yards. 1655 tr. C. Sorel Comical Hist. Francion vii. 9 Spreading his thighs he shewed to the Citizens wife all that he had. 1673 J. Milton At Vacation Exercise in Poems (new ed.) 68 Trent, who like some earth-born Giant spreads His thirty Armes. 1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding ii. xiii. 80 He would put his Arm, where there was before Space without Body; and if there he spread his Fingers, there would still be Space between them without Body. a1704 T. Brown Remains (1720) 141 Under this Marble Peggy lies, Who did so often spread her Thighs, And made Philander's Courage rise. 1729 R. Lowth Geneal. Christ 18 The mournful Captive spreads her Hands in vain, Her Hands that rankle with the servile Chain. 1781 W. Cowper Charity 596 Like him, the soul..Spread wide her arms of universal love. 1797 ‘F. Fitzgerald’ Gen. Genteel Preceptor iii. 317 Instead of spreading their feet when walking, they fold them. 1816 P. B. Shelley Alastor 13 He..spread his arms to meet Her panting bosom. 1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. v. iii. 310 Swift-crushing is her stroke; look what a paw she spreads. 1848 W. Irving Hist. N.Y. (rev. ed.) iv. xi. 247 Each one put his thumb to the end of his nose, spread his fingers like a fan,..and then smoked on in dubious silence. 1868 Atlantic Monthly Aug. 145/1 [She] laid the child on her lap and fed him, while he..spread his toes in the warm firelight. 1906 R. F. Nelligan Art Swimming (new ed.) i. 21 It is a mistake in side swimming to spread the legs to the sides as in the breast stroke. 1932 D. Hammett in Collier's 19 Nov. 23/1 Spade spread his hands in a gesture of finality. 1958 J. Kerouac Let. 15 Jan. in Sel. Lett. 1957–69 (1999) 106 Went to Harlem..and found a young girl with tight thighs who spread her legs and threw em way back. 1959 M. Cumberland Murmurs in Rue Morgue v. 38 The thumb and extended fingers, spread in front of the face, made a baffling disguise. 2013 J. Trollope Daughters-in-law i. 9 The priest spread his wide, white-sleeved arms and beamed upon Charlotte and Luke. (b) transitive. With adverb reinforcing the sense, as abroad (now archaic, see also abroad adv. 1c), forth (chiefly in religious language, of hands), apart, out. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > extend [verb (transitive)] > spread apart spreada1425 divaricate1672 a1425 Lay Folks' Mass Bk. (Cambr.) (1904) l. 239 Þe prest..wyll sprede his armes obrade. c1475 Wisdom (Folger) (1969) l. 1102 (MED) My handys sprede abrode to halse þe swyre; My fete naylyde to abyde wyth þe. a1500 (?a1390) J. Mirk Festial (Gough) (1905) 124 He..fell downe to þe grownd, wyth hys armes sprad abrod, as Crist sprad hys armes on þe cros. 1569 W. Samuel Abridgem. Olde Test.: 2 Chron. vi. sig. K.vii^v Faith made the King to God to pray, when he his flock had blest: With armes spred out and vowed knees, thus made he his request. 1583 W. Hunnis Seuen Sobs i. 80 I haue spred foorth my hands to thee, my soule for helpe doth crie. 1611 Bible (King James) 2 Chron. vi. 12 He stood before the Altar of the Lord..and spread foorth his hands. 1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια i. ii. 6 If you conceiue a measure betweene the feete spread abroad, [etc.]. 1650 W. Pynchon Meritorious Price our Redempt. 37 When Moses deprecated, that God would take away his Plagues from Pharaoh, he spread abroad his hands. 1696 J. Pechey Gen. Treat. Dis. Maids xxi. 126 Being in this posture she must spread her Thighs abroad, folding her Legs a little towards her Buttocks. 1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure I. 76 Her thighs were spread out to their utmost extension, and discover'd between them the mark of the sex. 1783 J. O. Justamond tr. G. T. F. Raynal Philos. Hist. Europeans in Indies (new ed.) IV. vii. 124 The animals..spread out their legs that they may not fall. 1797 Evangelical Mag. Aug. 335 The holy martyr spread forth his hands and resumed the praises of God. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian viii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. I. 237 With all the fingers spread out as if to clutch it. 1829 ‘Philo Lucis’ National Mirror Masonry 19 Their fingers crooked and spread apart. 1838 W. Welsh Poems 11 Like streamers some their feet spread out, Some hottert thro' like cripples. 1867 S. O. Beeton Our Soldiers & Victoria Cross xxiv. 307 They turn their feet inward when walking, and spread their toes out like a duck in crossing swampy ground. 1889 ‘M. Twain’ Connecticut Yankee xxiii. 292 I spread my arms abroad. 1915 G. Lee Diary 6 Apr. in Home Fires Burning (2006) 98 You carefully lay down anything you are holding, then spread out your hands. 1943 A. Rand Fountainhead iii. vi. 504 He lolled pleasurably,..his legs spread out in a wide fork on the carpet. 1968 D. C. N. Hudson & P. S. Dyer Your Bk. of Rugger v. 49 ‘Number 8’..packs down in between the second row, with his back parallel to the ground and his feet spread evenly apart. 1984 P. Barker Blow your House Down x. 62 She lay down on the mattress and spread her legs apart. 2009 Independent 9 Apr. 39/2 You spread your arms out, they become your wings. c. Of hands, arms, wings, etc.: to extend outwards from the body or a central point so that they or their parts are wide apart. Also figurative and in figurative contexts. Also with †abroad, apart, out. (a) intransitive. ΚΠ a1350 in K. Böddeker Altengl. Dichtungen (1878) 200 Iesu, of loue soth tocknynge, Þin armes spredeþ to mankynde. c1430 (c1395) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) Prol. l. 143 Lo ȝond he comyth I se hise wyngis sprede. 1607 T. Dekker Whore of Babylon sig. H3 Doe seruile clowdes, (Whose azure winges spread ouer graues and tombes) Our glorious body circumvolue? 1665 J. Crowne Pandion & Amphigenia 18 The Pillars on which the Gate was hung, were made of purest Marble, on the top of which were ingraven Gilded Griffons, whose Wings spread with the shutting, and closed with its opening. 1736 N. Bailey et al. Dictionarium Britannicum (ed. 2) at Mercy Seat On each side..was a cherubim of gold, with wings spreading over the Mercy Seat. 1743 R. Pococke Descr. East I. 120 The particular sort of Ethiopian hawk worshipped here..is represented with a long neck, the wings spreading very wide. 1876 G. C. Davies Swan & Her Crew iv. 16 They [sc. butterflies] climb up the side of the box, and then their wings spread out, and get so large and beautiful! 1894 H. H. Gardener Unoffic. Patriot xix. 292 Both arms lifted themselves up, and both hands spread as if to grasp something. 1958 USSR No. 4 12/2 But when it comes close to the ground the wings spread to full length and the eagle lands without striking. 2007 Tate Etc. Spring 32/1 The further his arms spread apart, the further back the camera shot retreats. (b) transitive (reflexive). ΚΠ a1652 J. Smith Select Disc. (1660) ix. x. 440 The Wings of the Morning spreading themselves upon the Mountains. 1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. i. 10/2 If the Angels stand directly with a full Body, or presence..to our sight; then the Wings do spread themselves on both sides the Body. 1725 D. Humphreys tr. B. de Montfaucon Suppl. Antiq. Explained II. vi. iv. 209 A kind of Petticoat, or rather Wings, spread themselves from her Waste downwards, and she seems as if about to cover every thing with it, as a Hen does her Chickens under her Wings. 1770 T. Nugent tr. E. Toze Present State Europe I. ii. 157 From the Pyrenees,..three vast arms spread themselves thro' the whole country. 1781 T. Francklin tr. Lucian Wks. (new ed.) III. 203 Wings spread themselves out on each side of her, her nose grew hard and crooked, she..became a complete owl. 1831 tr. L. Tieck Pietro of Abano in Old Man of Mountain 331 His [sc. a spectre's] arms spread themselves out like an eagle's wings. 1853 Illustr. Mag. Art 1 135/1 His chest..gradually..thickens into an abyss of stomach, from which two thick short legs spread themselves. 1854 ‘E. Wetherell’ & ‘A. Lothrop’ Carl Krinken: Christmas Stocking 103 His two hands spread themselves to the blaze as if they liked it. 1878 E. C. Price Lost Battle II. xxvii. 262 One of Will's hands was lying outside the counterpane. The fingers spread themselves out, and clenched themselves together. 1907 J. Blyth Canker xvi. 230 His large feet spread themselves out, their square toes projected well outwards. 1934 P. Brunton Search in Secret India xii. 215 His thin hands spread themselves upon the table. 2011 M. Christian Angel of Tsar iii. ix. 210 Her arms spread themselves out like graceful wings. d. transitive. To open out (wings) in preparation for, during, or as for flight. Also with abroad (now archaic), forth (now literary), out. Also figurative and in figurative contexts.For figurative use ‘to test or develop one's powers, etc.’ see wing n. Phrases 2d. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > extend [verb (transitive)] > stretch out stretchc900 astretchc1000 i-stretchec1000 thinc1000 to-tightc1200 reacha1300 spreada1382 extendc1386 to lay outa1400 streeka1400 outstretcha1425 rekea1425 stentc1430 outreach?1440 inch out1878 a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Deut. xxxii. 11 He spradde out his wyngys. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. l. 417 He sprat his wynge and up he fleth. a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Deut. xxxii. 11 He spredde forth his wyngis. 1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage of Soul (Caxton) (1859) v. i. 69 They rysen, and mounten ferre fro the erthe, and spreydyn theyr wynges. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Kings vi. 27 The Cherubins spred forth their wynges. ?1554 J. Heywood Balade Mariage betwene our Soveraigne Lord & Lady (single sheet) The egles byrde hath spred his wings And from far of, hathe taken flyght. 1560 Bible (Geneva) 2 Chron. iii. 13 The wings of these Cherubims were spred abroad twentie cubites. 1611 Bible (King James) Exod. xxxvii. 9 And the Cherubims spread out their wings..ouer the Mercie seat. View more context for this quotation c1614 W. Mure tr. Virgil Dido & Æneas i. in Wks. (1898) I. 1003 Now silent night spred foorth her sable wings. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 928 At last his Sail-broad Vannes He spreads for flight. View more context for this quotation 1672 J. Davies Anc. Rites Durham 17 A great Pelican on the height of it, finely gilt..her wings spread abroad. 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Volant, in Heraldry, is when a Bird in a Coat of Arms is drawn flying, or having its Wings spread out. 1785 W. Cowper Task iii. 135 The fly, That spreads his motley wings in th' eye of noon. a1807 W. Wordsworth Prelude (1959) x. 414 I..wish'd that Man should start Out of the worm-like state in which he is, And spread abroad the wings of Liberty. 1831 J. A. Shea Adolph 117 The true-eyed falcon spread his faithful wings. 1835 E. A. Poe in Southern Lit. Messenger Sept. 762/2 Far and wide, over sea and land, the black wings of the Pestilence were spread abroad. 1864 H. W. Dulcken tr. H. C. Andersen Stories & Tales 180 They..spread forth their glorious great wings, and flew away from that cold region to warmer lands. 1871 C. Darwin Descent of Man II. xiii. 95 We must..be cautious in concluding that the wings are spread out solely for display, as some birds act thus whose wings are not beautiful. 1911 A. M. Moreland Through South Westland 163 I saw a bush falcon in the beech before the door, dusky-black when he spread his wings. 1953 Bulgaria Today May 15/1 Early every morning it [sc. a stork] would spread its wings out, then circle three times above the church. 2005 C. A. Haynali Poetry from Heart by Alzheimer's Caregiver 87 Who glides high up above observing His wings spread forth in such beauty As he glides through the clouds. 2009 I. Thomson Dead Yard xiii. 162 On a ribbon of sand at the sea's edge a John Crow (vulture) spread its wings over a piece of carrion. e. To lay (a person) down with the limbs outstretched and usually relaxed. Also with out. (a) transitive (reflexive). ΚΠ 1566 J. Studley tr. Seneca Medea iii. f. 30 He lyuyng spred hym selfe alonge on burnynge Oetas hyll. 1664 J. Barrow Lord's Arm Stretched Out 13 The Boy roared again, and..spread himself on the floar, where he lay with one leg backward and another forward, with his arms spread out. 1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. ix. iv. 306 He then demanded his Billets..and complaining it was cold, spread himself before the Kitchen Fire. View more context for this quotation 1751 J. Cleland Mem. Coxcomb ii. 144 I took post in the chair set for me, and spread myself out, in full display of my figure. 1786 S. Henley tr. W. Beckford Arabian Tale 99 At last, he spread himself on the sopha, and slept sounder than he ever had before. 1834 J. Morier Ayesha II. ii. 34 He..calmly took off his socks and slippers, spread himself out on his back, put his feet into the noose, received blows. 1866 ‘Lin-le’ Ti-ping Tien-kwoh vii. 187 When I reached the cabin skylight I spread myself out by the side of it and gazed below. 1922 D. H. Lawrence Aaron's Rod (N.Y. ed.) xii. 162 The girl in soft blue spread herself on the couch. 1946 M. McLaverty in R. Greacen Irish Harvest 113 Suddenly there came to her a sharp resentment against Frank the way..he spread himself out before the fire. 2013 C. J. Yates Black Chalk xxxvi(ii). 144 Emilia..moved cautiously toward the bed on which Jolyon had spread himself. (b) transitive (in passive).In quot. 1693 for the purposes of sexual intercourse: cf. note at sense 4b. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > posture > action or fact of lying down or reclining > lie down or recline [verb (transitive)] > with relaxed limbs spread1609 1609 T. Heywood Troia Britanica vi. 125 From a farre They might espy a goodly Knight lie spread Vpon the grasse. 1684 I. Mather Ess. for Recording Illustrious Providences ii. 43 Took up our Lodging in a dismal place, and were staked down and spread out on our backs. 1693 J. Dryden tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires vi. 92 Many a fair Nymph has in a Cave been spread, And much good Love, without a Feather-Bed. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals x, in tr. Virgil Wks. 46 Mænalian Pines the Godlike Swain bemoan; When spread beneath a Rock he sigh'd alone. 1825 T. W. C. Edwards Bucolics of Virgil 173/2 I lie open or expanded, I am spread out. 1894 Munsey's Mag. 11 327/2 He was spread out in front of the fire with his paper. 1913 C. Marriott Sally Castleton, Southerner xv. 187 Sally could imagine it on winter nights with a lazy cat spread on the hearth. 1985 L. Magner Tender Refuge v. 80 He was spread out on Will's sofa in the proprietary fashion of a male staking a claim. 2006 H. Matar Country of Men (2007) xxii. 222 Mama was spread on the sofa, the covers were off, the window beside her wide open. 5. Of something immaterial. a. To gradually reach a wider area or more people; to become prevalent or (more) widely existent, present, known, felt, etc.; to become diffused or disseminated. Also with adverb, as abroad (now archaic), about, etc. (a) intransitive. Of a condition, quality, emotion, reaction, effect, practice, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [verb (intransitive)] > of immaterial things aspringc1000 to-bredea1023 spread?c1225 rangec1450 disperse1605 disseminate1803 percolate1854 haemorrhage1935 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 77 For as hali writ seið hare speche sprad ase cancre. c1300 St. Patrick's Purgatory (Laud) l. 467 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 213 (MED) Þare cam smite out a swote smel, and wide a-boute gan sprede. c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 1607 Þurȝ þe sped of þe spyryt þat sprad hym wythinne. ?a1430 T. Hoccleve Mother of God l. 81 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 54 Thy gracious bountee spredith al aboute. 1508 W. Kennedy Flyting (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 211 It was the gud langage of this land, And Scota it causit to multiply and sprede. 1594 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis (new ed.) sig. Fiij^v A second feare through all her sinewes spred. a1656 Bp. J. Hall Shaking of Olive-tree (1660) ii. 189 Arianisme began in a family, spread over the World. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 117 Take the Traytor's head, E're in the faultless Flock the dire Contagion spread . View more context for this quotation 1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 265. ¶6 I am informed that this Fashion spreads daily. 1782 J. Priestley Hist. Corruptions Christianity I. i. 75 His opinions are acknowledged to have spread much. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 293 This system of nomenclature..spread with great rapidity to other countries. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iv. 457 Discontent and suspicion would spread fast through society. 1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People viii. §1. 449 A new moral and religious impulse spread through every class. 1921 L. Stoddard New World Islam ii. 86 The Salafî movement..started in India..but during the past few years it has spread widely through Islam. 1941 G. C. Booth Mexico's School-made Society ii. 29 Occasionally the maestro explains the existence of microbes and the ways in which disease spreads. 1990 Illustr. London News Summer 46/3 The snuff-taking habit spread during the 18th century. 2006 V. Smil Transforming 20th Cent. iv. 171 This innovation spread rapidly. (b) intransitive. Of news, information, a rumour, fame, etc. ΘΚΠ society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publish or spread abroad [verb (intransitive)] > spread or be current springOE spreadc1300 to go abouta1325 quicka1400 risea1400 runa1400 walkc1400 stir1423 voice1429 fly1480 to go abroad1513 to come abroad1525 wandera1547 divulge1604 to get abroad1615 to take aira1616 to make (also do) the rounds1669 to get about1740 reach1970 c1300 St. Sebastian (Laud) l. 76 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 180 For no miracle þat he dude to wide scholde sprede. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 15062 On þin worthi werkes don Farr spredes þi fame. c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 365 (MED) Þis speche sprang in þat space and spradde alle aboute. c1475 (?c1451) Bk. Noblesse (Royal) (1860) 45 The renome of his noble astate and name sprad thoroughe alle cristyn roiaumes. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. f. ccii/1 It was sayd howe surly they were at Burdeaux,..whiche wordes sprade abrode in the hoost. 1589 R. Greene Menaphon sig. L2^v Which newes spred thorough Arcadie as a wonder, that at last it came to Menaphons eares. 1638 J. Milton Lycidas in Obsequies 22 in Justa Edouardo King Fame..lives, and spreads aloft by those pure eyes. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. J. Albert de Mandelslo 96 in Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors Which increas'd as the noyse of the attempt spread more and more into the City. 1685 J. Dryden Threnodia Augustalis iv. 7 The joyful short-liv'd news soon spread around. 1713 Boston News-let. 18 May 2/2 The Rumour whereof may possibly have spread into the Country. 1764 Museum Rusticum IV. 10 The account of this, spreading into Holland, determined the Dutch to send colonies there. 1789 D. Davidson Thoughts Seasons 36 The rumour spreading round the lochan, The cause could not be told for laughin. 1824 W. Irving Tales of Traveller II. iv. 270 His reputation for a ready moneyed man, who would lend money out for a good consideration, soon spread abroad. 1835 W. Wordsworth Yarrow Revisited 245 His fame may spread, but in the past Her spirit finds its centre. 1893 B. Harraden Ships that Pass xvii. 170 Word spread about that Herr Allitsen had arrived. 1915 L. Spence Hero Tales & Legends of Rhine vii. 344 But soon its [sc. a clock's] fame spread abroad to other cities. 1916 W. Lippmann in New Republic 17 June 164/1 A story spread around that one somewhat pro-Roosevelt boss had said: [etc.]. 1937 Dict. National Biogr. 1922–30 at Alexandra Caroline Mary Charlotte Louise Julia A malicious rumour spread that the Prince and Princess of Wales had outrun their income. 1978 Staffrider 1 32 News spread like wildfire. 2008 Vanity Fair Sept. 393/1 Soon word of the president's new romance got out, and it spread rapidly. b. To cause to gradually reach a wider area or more people; to cause to become prevalent or (more) widely existent, present, known, felt, etc.; to disseminate or diffuse. Also with about, abroad (now archaic, see also abroad adv. 1a), around, forth (now literary). (a) transitive. With a quality, emotion, reaction, effect, practice, etc., as object. ΚΠ 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 29 (MED) Ouerweninge..makeþ to moche sprede þe merci of our lhorde. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 12716 Quen drightin gan to sprad his grace Til his aun choslings treu. c1460 Tree & 12 Frutes (McClean) (1960) 13 (MED) If þou wilt also sprede abrode þi charite, I wold [etc.]. a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 208 The taste is a commyn witte, Spraden throgh the body. a1500 (?a1425) tr. Secreta Secret. (Lamb.) 71 Þe kendly hete ys y-drawe þerto and spredforth by al þe body to þe stomak. a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 5 So ys the mynd then most perfyt, when hyt communyth & spredyth hys vertues abrode. 1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus Annales iv. xv. 111 Because it was not certainely knowne whom that violent ruine had beaten downe, the vncertaintie spread the feare the farther. c1614 W. Mure tr. Virgil Dido & Æneas ii. in Wks. (1898) I. 106 O how quick doth love..spreed in every parte A furiows flame! 1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. i. i. 3 The present Coptic or Ægyptian..was probably spred amongst that people in the days of Alexander the Great. 1686 tr. J. Claude Acct. Persecutions Protestants in France 23 The Troops ravaged in this manner the Provinces, spreading terror and desolation in all parts. 1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Explosion, an Action of the Animal spirits, whereby the Nerves are suddenly drawn together..by which they are violently expanded, or spread forth and driven into confusion. 1720 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad V. xvii. 770 Chearing his Men, and spreading Deaths around. 1768 O. Goldsmith Good Natur'd Man i. 14 She could spread an horse-laugh thro' the pews of a tabernacle. 1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. ix. 326 It spread a general alarm among Montoni's people. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 157 His arrival spread dismay through the whole English population. 1854 Poultry Chron. 2 266 It seems likely that, by thus spreading the local interest, shows..might become self-supporting. 1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iii. §4. 128 Wandering teachers..crossed sea and land to spread the new power of knowledge. 1907 Proc. Royal Geogr. Soc. Australasia: S. Austral. Branch 9 19 The reptile age, an age in which a vast crowd of frightful and gigantic lizards spread terror throughout the antideluvian [sic] seas. 1950 V. Peniakoff Private Army ii. v. 128 A message came on the wireless for me. It said: ‘Spread alarm and despondency’. 1980 B. Friel Faith Healer in Sel. Plays (1984) 333 I was doing good, giving relief, spreading joy. 1996 K. S. Robinson Blue Mars 115 Structures that spread the power around, and diminish the dangers of majoritarianism. 2007 E. Osers tr. D. Senghaas On Perpetual Peace x. 196 Terroristically motivated violence wishes to spread terror. (b) transitive. With news, information, a rumour, fame, etc., as object. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > extend in space [verb (intransitive)] bredeOE comeOE ylasta1175 drawc1180 areachc1225 lastc1275 tillc1290 durea1300 reachc1330 spreada1400 halec1400 reignc1400 splatec1440 extend1481 endure1523 span1535 discoursea1547 wina1578 distend1581 intend1594 sweep1789 outlie1876 society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publish or spread abroad [verb (transitive)] sowc888 blowc1275 dispeple1297 to do abroadc1300 fame1303 publyc1350 defamea1382 publisha1382 open?1387 proclaima1393 slandera1400 spreada1400 abroachc1400 throwc1400 to give outa1425 promote?a1425 noisec1425 publicc1430 noisec1440 divulgea1464 to put outc1475 skail1487 to come out witha1500 bruit1525 bruita1529 to bear out1530 divulgate1530 promulgate1530 propale?1530 ventilate1530 provulgate1535 sparple1536 sparse1536 promulge1539 disperse1548 publicate1548 forthtell1549 hurly-burly?1550 propagate1554 to set abroada1555 utter1561 to set forth1567 blaze1570 evulgate1570 scatter1576 rear?1577 to carry about1585 pervulgate1586 celebrate?1596 propalate1598 vent1602 evulge1611 to give forth1611 impublic1628 ventilate1637 disseminate1643 expose1644 emit1650 to put about1664 to send abroad1681 to get abroad1688 to take out1697 advertise1710 forward1713 to set abouta1715 circulate1780 broadcast1829 vent1832 vulgate1851 debit1879 float1883 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6213 Son was in land þe tiþand spredd þe folk was turned again and fledd. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Prioress's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 2 O lord oure lord, thy name how merueilous Is in this large world ysprad. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. ccclxvi/2 Anon the tydynges were spredde abrode. ?1504 S. Hawes Example of Vertu sig. cc.vi Of whose noble dedes the brute and sowne Was spred by euery straunge habytacyon. 1518 H. Watson tr. Hystorye Olyuer of Castylle xlv. sig. k.iij^v These tydynges were sone spredde aboute in the ladyes chambres. 1592 A. Willet Synopsis Papismi i. 19 That the death of Christ might by those common and vniuersall toungs be the further spread abroad. 1644 Contin. Speciall Passages Parl. 21 May 8 Many uncertaine reports were spred abroad. 1662 in Extracts State Papers (Friends' Hist. Soc.) (1911) 2nd Ser. 151 Such base lyes..are now dayly & hourely spread abroad against our present Gracious King. 1706 tr. L. E. Du Pin New Eccl. Hist. 16th Cent. II. iv. xxi. 366 The Imperialists also spread it about, That their Master long'd to see the Council at an End. 1724 G. Berkeley Proposal Supplying Churches 6 Missionaries for spreading the gospel among their countrymen. 1746 P. Francis tr. Horace Art of Poetry 469 [This] shall..across the seas To distant nations spread the writer's fame. a1797 E. Burke Thoughts on Scarcity (1800) 1 Idle tales, spread about by the industry of faction. 1803 tr. F. de B. d'Arnaud Lorimon II. 120 Avarice had not gangreened your soul to the degree report had spread abroad. 1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward II. ii. 54 For this Louis promised to provide, by spreading a report that the Ladies of Croye had escaped. 1849 G. Ticknor Hist. Spanish Lit. I. 33 His reputation was early spread throughout Europe, on account of his general science. 1897 H. P. Hedges Hist. East-Hampton 104 He..made efforts to spread the knowledge of the Gospel among the Montauk Indians. 1931 Amer. Mercury Jan. 88/2 She had to stand off the Dykes about her board bill, and they spread the news around. 1975 Whig-Standard (Kingston, Ont.) 31 July 6/6 Canada's only longrange airliner, the Northstar,..spread Canada's name and fame across the world. 1982 Asian Folklore Stud. 41 73 Tales of miraculous cures,..spread abroad by the constant and wide-flung stream of pilgrims visiting the shrine. 1994 Sun Zoom Spark Dec. 48/1 People who collect stuff about Suede and are genned-up and happy to spread Suedely knowledge about a bit. 2013 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 10 Feb. (Business section) 10/4 Net-speak: phrases you wouldn't hear if the Internet didn't spread them around. 6. To move apart so as to cover a larger area; to become more widely scattered, dispersed, or distributed; to recur or become more common. a. (a) intransitive. Without reinforcing adverb. ΚΠ c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13746 Heo weoren to kene..and to ueor wenden and spradden to wide ȝeond þat feht brade. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3792 Wit þe i sal be in al þi nede And gar þin oxspring wide spred. c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. l. 6788 (MED) Þe crop..gan so florische & sprede Þat al þe pleyn..was schadowed. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. vi^v The hyer and the farther that ye cast your corne the better shall it sprede. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 45 Quhair ance it fixis the rute it spredis. 1605 G. Chapman Al Fooles v. ii. 372 Now take your severall wives, And spred like wilde-geese. 1638 T. Nabbes Totenham Court ii. i. 14 To make the series of their Families Spread in so many glorious divisions. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 354 Her barbarous Sons..spread Beneath Gibraltar to the Lybian sands. View more context for this quotation 1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Meleager & Atalanta in Fables 108 The Heroes there arriv'd, some spread around The Toils; some search the Footsteps on the Ground. 1735 W. Somerville Chace (ed. 3) ii. 39 Wild Crowds Spread o'er the Plain, by the sweet Frenzy seiz'd. 1784 J. King Cook's Voy. Pacific III. vi. viii. 411 In order to extend our view in the day time, the ships spread between two and three leagues from each other. 1854 J. H. Newman Lect. Hist. Turks ii. ii. 70 The Romans spread gradually from one central city. 1866 C. Darwin Origin of Species (ed. 4) iv. 152 Those species which spread widely tend generally to spread very widely. 1906 P. Kropotkin Mem. Revolutionist (ed. 2) Pref. p. xxvi Similar strikes soon spread all over Poland. 1926 F. W. Hilgendorf Weeds N.Z. 27 Speargrass, a perennial introduced from Australia and recently spreading greatly in the Marlborough Sounds. 1929 H. MacQuarrie We & Baby 103 Drovers usually allow their beasts to ‘spread’ some miles before reaching water. 1954 F. C. Lane All about Insect World 56 The European mantis has been brought to America and so have several Oriental species. They seem contented and have spread everywhere. 2007 C. Nouvian Deep 168/2 This phenomenon..caused the evolution of new deepwater species, which then spread northward into the other oceans. (b) intransitive. With adverb reinforcing the sense, as about, abroad (now archaic), around, (now esp.) out. ΚΠ c1300 St. Edward Elder (Laud) 52 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 48 His Men pleiden and Arnden bi þe weie, and spradden a-boute ful wide. a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xvii. 272 As soone as the saisnes were logged thai spredde a-brode in the contrey to forry. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cccxxi. 498 So the men of armes sprad abrode. 1611 Bible (King James) Gen. xxviii. 14 Thou shalt spread abroad to the West, and to the East, and to the North, and to the South. 1730 J. Thomson Autumn in Seasons 134 The gleaners spread around, and here and there, Spike after spike, their sparing harvest pick. 1807 T. Thornton Present State of Turkey v. 202 If..they failed in making an impression on the enemies line, they spread out to the right and left, and opened a greater front. 1887 I. Randall Lady's Ranche Life Montana 160 The captain of the round-up tells them to spread out into a wide half-circle. 1920 Discovery Nov. 330/1 Collingwood signalled to some of his ships to spread out. 1942 J. G. Brainerd et al. Ultra-high-frequency Techniques 334 Forces of repulsion between electrons..cause the groups of electrons to spread out. 1960 Res. Papers (Klamath County Museum) No. 2. xvii. 24 Back on Lost River with his people Captain Jack was a prince again. His people spread around to their accustomed haunts. 1994 Asia Major 7 78 The youth hangs a white banner atop a tree. Hu soldiers spread about, before and behind. 2012 Sight & Sound Apr. 30/2 The vehicles arrived in front of the fountain, stopped, and the actors spread out and started to act. b. transitive (reflexive). Also with about, abroad (now archaic), around, out, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [verb (intransitive)] bredeOE bespreadc1275 skaila1300 springc1390 shaila1400 spread1560 disperse1605 diffuse1655 1560 Bible (Geneva) 1 Chron. xiv. 13 Againe the Philistims came and spred them selues in the valley. 1611 Bible (King James) 1 Chron. xiv. 13 And the Philistines yet againe spread themselues abroad in the valley. 1682 M. Rowlandson Soveraignty & Goodness of God (ed. 2) vii. 21 The Indians quickly spread themselves over the deserted English Fields, gleaning what they could find. 1706 tr. L. E. Du Pin New Eccl. Hist. 16th Cent. II. iv. xi. 453 They spread themselves about among the Cities of the Venetian State. 1727 C. Colden Hist. Five Indian Nations i. 3 The Adirondacks were obliged to spread themselves far, because of the scarcity of the Game. 1751 tr. Frederick II Mem. House Brandenburg 73 Their troops spread themselves around, and their different parties over-run the whole country. 1767 New Coll. Authentic Voy., Discov. & Trav. II. 351 Directions were given to spread themselves out a mile and a half, that she might not pass them in the dark. 1792 W. Bartram Trav. N. & S. Carolina (new ed.) ii. iii. 87 Pistia stratiotes..associates in large communities, or floating islands... They are first produced on, or close to the shore, in eddy water, where they gradually spread themselves into the river. 1821 H. M. Williams tr. A. von Humboldt Personal Narr. Trav. V. i. xx. 90 Clouds of moschettoes more or less thick, according as these little animals..form into groups, or spread themselves abroad. 1840 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop xxv, in Master Humphrey's Clock I. 233 The whole cluster took to their heels and spread themselves about, shouting and laughing as they went. 1855 C. Kingsley Westward Ho! III. v. 180 They began to spread themselves along the stream. 1877 H. James in Galaxy Dec. 784/1 London holiday-makers flock down there in hundreds, and spread themselves over the place. 1901 R. C. Maclagan Games Argyleshire 22 Behind this [mark] the fielders of the side ‘out’ spread themselves. 1921 P. Colum Golden Fleece & Heroes who lived before Achilles i. x. 90 They spread themselves abroad and entered the houses. 1936 W. C. Williams in New Directions (1942) 7 263 Four picnickers..come in from the right... Hot from walking, they spread themselves around. 1941 E. Raymond Last to Rest ii. i. 163 A cataract of demons tumbled from the lorry and spread themselves about. 1992 J. Buckley & M. Durnford Europe: Rough Guide ii. xx. 1100 Thousands of Nivea-smeared tourists spread themselves across the nudist beaches. 2013 D. D. Harris Garden of E ii. 9 The Seeker groups..spread themselves out as they strategically locate edible plants throughout the garden. 7. To extend by natural development. Also figurative and in figurative contexts. a. (a) intransitive. Of flowers, leaves, etc.: to open out, unfold. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > be a flower or part containing reproductive organ [verb (intransitive)] > open or unfold spreadc1275 flower13.. unfoldc1350 spanishc1425 c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 437 Þe blostme ginneþ springe & sprede. c1430 (c1395) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) Prol. l. 48 To sen these flouris a-gen the sunne to sprede. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvi. 67 Lewis on the branchis spredis, And blomys bricht besyd thame bredis. c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) xxi (MED) The tender flouris opnyt thame and sprad. 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 530 Flouris spreidand..Of diuers hew, with mony cullour cleir. 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball vi. i. 653 When these buddes do open and spreade, the..Roses do muster and shewe foorth of colour white. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 323 As soon as it is put into warm water, it spreads and reassumes its former green Colour. 1698 W. Harris & J. Keill tr. N. Lémery Course Chym. (ed. 3) ii. xiii. 523 It is best gathering Roses newly spread a little after Sun-rising. 1765 Museum Rusticum 4 94 When the barley begins to spread, (or brewer). 1803 A. H. Haworth Miscellanea Naturalia 150 In autumn and winter, the terminal leaves of the stolones spread less. 1843 Ladies' Repository July 36/1 While pleasant thoughts around each trembling spray, Hover like honey-bees when rose-buds spread. 1905 B. S. Parker After Noontide 184 When the Dream Bud spreads and the lilac springs, One maiden, only one, has the hidden wings. 1945 Torreya 45 114 On some trees, the anther-valves begin to lift and expose the pollen before the petals have fully spread. 2003 E. Bruns et al. in M. D. Schwartz Phenology 100 The flower is considered open only when the outer leaves have spread and the stamens are visible. (b) intransitive. To grow so as to cover a large or increasing area; spec. (of a tree) to grow outwards. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > grow in a specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > climb, creep, or spread spreadc1300 runc1425 creep1530 ramp1578 clamber1601 couch1601 crawl1637 gad1638 climb1796 ramble1858 c1300 St. Kenelm (Laud) 116 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 348 Him þouȝte þat þare stod a treo..Þat a-non to þe steorrene it tilde and swyþe wide it spradde [c1300 Harl. spredde]. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 27877 O glotori and o drunkenhede Fele wick branches se we sprede. a1535 T. More Dialoge of Comfort (1553) i. ii. sig. A.iiii^v Lyke the lytle graine of a musterd sede..set it in the garden of our soule..shall it growe, and so spreade vp in heighte, that [etc.]. 1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Mowbray f. xiiiv The deper doth the sounde roote sprede abrode. 1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 42^v Good hop hath a pleasure, to clime & to spred. 1618 W. Lawson New Orchard & Garden viii. 24 The roots..must needs spread far vnder the earth. 1676 A. Marvell Mr. Smirke sig. E2 When it germinates, spreds, blossomes, and bears fruit. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 135 A Steer..whose Head Now first with burnish'd Horns begins to spread . View more context for this quotation 1743 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Odes II. iv. xi. 6 With living wreaths to crown our heads The parsley's vivid verdure spreads. 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. i. iii. 7 One Petal; it consists of two Parts, viz...the Limb, or upper Part, which usually spreads wider. 1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) I. 83 Not rising high, but spreading wide upon the ground. 1802 Barrington's Hist. New S. Wales viii. 283 The she oaks were more inclined to spread than grow tall. 1826 D. Booth Art of Brewing (ed. 2) 174 The roots..spread to a great distance. 1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess iv. 74 The branches thereupon Spread out at top. 1923 Chambers's Jrnl. Dec. 828/2 A huge, gnarled tree, tremendously thick and spreading like an ombú. 2000 Canad. Geographic July 82/2 A vine that drives me nuts because its sinewy roots spread like fury. †(c) intransitive. To arise or spring from. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > originate, derive, or arise [verb (intransitive)] > arise gradually, develop, or evolve to grow upa1599 spread1642 develop1744 evolve1851 evolute1872 1642 H. More Ψυχωδια Platonica sig. G7^v How the mixture of their rayes may breed Th' opinion of uncertain qualitie, When they from certain roots of life do spreed. b. transitive (reflexive) in senses 7a(a), 7a(b). ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > extend [verb (reflexive)] spread1340 stretcha1387 extend1481 ramify1796 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 23 Þes boȝ [sc. of pride] him spret ine uele manyeres ariȝthalf and alefthalf. a1500 (?a1425) tr. Secreta Secret. (Lamb.) 91 Also þare ys a tree þat hauys leuys of vygour, and his braunches spredyn hem on þe erthe. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. i. sig. Bb7^v Before the gate a spatious playne, Mantled with greene, it selfe did spredden wyde. 1604 C. Edmondes Observ. Cæsars Comm. II. vii. xxxi. 113 Great firme boughs..spreading themselues at the top into very sharpe cags. 1629 J. Parkinson Paradisi in Sole 280 The rootes spread themselues vnder ground very much from the toppe. 1700 S. L. tr. C. Frick Relation Voy. in tr. C. Frick & C. Schweitzer Relation Two Voy. E.-Indies 47 The Leaves [of the coco-nut tree] spread themselves all in a fuff, and the Nutts under them. 1726 L. Theobald Shakespeare Restored App. 191 There is some Power else besides balmy Air, that brings forth, and makes the tender Buds spread Themselves. 1787 W. Withering Brit. Plants (ed. 2) I. 260 The boughs spread themselves wider, and hang more down than those of the U. campestris. 1828 H. Steuart Planter's Guide viii. 214 Roots spread themselves in the ground, in a way nearly analogous to that, in which branches spread themselves in the air. 1867 M. A. Paull tr. H. C. Andersen Fairy Tales 469 The summit of this tree spread itself for miles like an entire forest. 1915 C. Field tr. A. Strindberg German Lieutenant & Other Stories i. 16 The baby oaks spread themselves out to bushes in order to kill the tender beech-seedlings. 1985 J. Hospital Borderline 143 The tree spread itself like a great umbrella whose points almost touched the ground. 2005 J. A. Jackson Adventure Trav. in Himalaya iv. 39 Thick succulent leaves of Stonecrop..with their small star-like flowers, spread themselves out from each soil-bearing crack and cranny. 8. To expand to cover a large or increasing area; (also) to stretch far and wide, to be displayed as an extensive geographical feature. Also with adverb, as about, abroad (now archaic), around, forth (now literary), out. Also figurative and in figurative contexts. a. transitive (reflexive).Quot. 1340 could be interpreted as intransitive, and is also coloured by sense 7 (cf. quot. 1340 at sense 7b, in a comparable context from the same source). ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (reflexive)] spread1340 expatiate1650 spread1693 expand1776 the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (intransitive)] > cover more space by spread1340 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 17 Þis zenne him to-delþ and spret ine zuo uele deles þet onneaþe me may hise telle. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xix. lxxvii. 1337 Colde makeþ many roughnesses [emended in ed. to makeþ roughnesse] in moiste water [read mater], byndynge and drawynge þe vtter parties to þe myddel, and lettynge þe þynne partyes to sprede hemself outward. c1540 J. Drummond tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova Def. of Age sig. B.i^v The fore sayd spyced wyne, when it is receyued of man, it spredeth it selfe abrode in y^e partes of the body. 1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (lxv. 12) The same fatnesse spreadeth itselfe even into the uninhabited countries. 1611 C. Tourneur Atheist's Trag. (new ed.) i. sig. B1^v Had not my Body spredde it selfe Into posteritie; perhaps I should Desire no more increase of substance. a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia: Richard II cclxxx, in Poems (1878) III. 207 The King now spreads himselfe; and, as a source, Issues in larger Streames. 1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 141 The Clouds had spread themselves over the Tops of the Hills. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 120. ¶11 This natural Love is not observed in Animals to ascend from the Young to the Parent;..it spreads it self downwards. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson iii. ii. 309 The different blendings of these woods and lawns..as they spread themselves differently through the vallies. 1797 Encycl. Brit. XI. 142/1 The smoke from the cook-room spread itself all over the ship. 1821 P. B. Shelley Adonais xlii. 21 He is a presence..Spreading itself where'er that Power may move [etc.]. 1840 Fortress I. v. 123 A glow of pleasure spread itself over his open sun-burnt brow. 1871 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest IV. xviii. 202 A city which in the tenth century..had spread itself far beyond the Roman Walls. 1909 Catholic World Aug. 655 The country spread itself in panorama before our eager gaze. 1921 Gas Manuf., Distribution & Use (Brit. Commerc. Gas Assoc.) ii. 107/2 The glass powder melts and spreads itself as a thin layer of coloured glass over the iron. 1985 J. Hospital Borderline 89 A film of dullness spread itself in the wake of the [wet dish]cloth like a blight. 2006 New Yorker 21 Aug. 75/1 He loved the way the wake spread itself out..and how..the water gathered itself into order and smoothed quickly. 2014 J. W. Green Growing up in Lee-on-the-Solent vii. 24 It [sc. ink] could even sneak unseen on to your fingers and then spread itself just about everywhere. b. (a) intransitive. Of something material. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away in all directions > move away in all directions (of things) spreada1382 dissipe1597 dispel1643 dissipate1660 break1827 to spread off1850 a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms iv. 2 In tribulacioun thou spraddest out [a1425 L.V. hast alargid] to me. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Joel ii. 2 As the mornyng sprad abrood [L. expansum], vpon hillis myche peple and strong. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18113 A deu, al for to mak þam hale, On þam sal spred. a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1882) iv. l. 118 Fir and flaumbe on al þe toun shal sprede. c1450 King Ponthus (Digby) in Publ. Mod. Lang. Assoc. Amer. (1897) 12 44 (MED) The water spred aboute vpon the ston. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 730 I spredde a brode, as a ryver that breaketh out of his channell or any suche lyke thyng. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Joel ii. 2 A stormy daye, like as the mornynge spredeth out vpon the hilles. 1577 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Islande Brit. i. xi. f. 33^v/1, in R. Holinshed Chron. I The maine streame spreading abroade into the Fennes. 1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus (new ed.) sig. Qi A litle sparke spreading burnes a whole Cittie. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 666 Within a Valley deepe, there spreadeth farre a Lake. 1663 B. Gerbier Counsel to Builders 10 Nature of Aire being to ascend, and when it meets with a sudden opposition it spreads. 1686 W. Harris tr. N. Lémery Course Chym. (ed. 2) i. i. 49 Gold will spread under the hammer more than any other Metal. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 160. ¶8 I saw the Valley opening at the further End, and spreading forth into an immense Ocean. 1738 E. Chambers Cycl. (ed. 2) at Paper Blotting Paper, is Paper not sized, and in which therefore ink readily sinks or spreads. 1789 H. L. Piozzi Observ. Journey France I. 400 London spreads chiefly the Marybone way perhaps. 1798 A. Aitchison Mod. Gazetteer II. 522/2 It [sc. the river Tay] spreads abroad a third time into the elegant and spacious lake, called Loch Tay. 1817 P. B. Shelley Mont Blanc iii, in Hist. Six Weeks' Tour 178 Broad vales..that spread And wind among the accumulated steeps. 1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. i. vii. vi. 364 Our straight frondent Avenue..spreads out into Place Royale and Palace Forecourt. 1854 Poultry Chron. 2 92 Thin, hackle-like feathers, spreading and drooping all round. 1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. 124 The clouds spread more and more. 1880 L. Parr Adam & Eve I. xii. 321 A patchwork of fields spread out and ran down to the cliffs. 1898 R. Bridges in Cornhill Mag. Sept. 308 Below their breezy crowns..Spreadeth the infinite smile of the sunlit sea. 1922 K. Bryan Routes Desert Watering Places 321 Pools of water that occur along the channels where flood waters spread out over adobe flats. 1932 ‘L. G. Gibbon’ Sunset Song ii. 99 The fire crackled up and spread and roared through the bushes. 1942 W. Faulkner Go down, Moses & Other Stories 92 The old worn-out brier- and sedge-choked fields spreading away. 1952 G. F. Hervey & J. Hems Freshwater Trop. Aquarium Fishes vi. 64 Dried food tends to spread out over the surface of the water. 1993 Guardian 18 Nov. ii. 13/4 Certain photopharmaceutical dyes can be injected into the body and allowed to spread around. 2008 J. Buckler & H. Beck Central Greece & Politics of Power iv. 76 At the crest of the mountain the landscape spreads below. (b) intransitive. Of a condition, quality, emotion, effect, practice, etc. ΚΠ a1450 tr. Bk. Tribulation (Bodl.) (1983) 65 The humour of the loue of thin herte is the lasse couenable to gostly fructifieng whan it spredeth to muche in braunches of flesshly frendes. a1500 (c1350) Octovian (Cambr.) (1986) l. 1500 (MED) Me thynkyth..That y am of hys [sc. the emperor's] own blode, Yf hyt so pouerly myght sprede. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) v. viii. 82 The prynce Eneas..Na langar suffer wald..fers Entellus mude thus rage and sprede. 1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus at Mano Runnyng sores: or sores that spread farther and farther. 1611 J. Donne Anat. World sig. B4 Our blushing redde, which vs'd in cheekes to spred, Is inward sunke. 1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 207 The Mortification seem'd to spread. 1789 M. Underwood Treat. Dis. Children (rev. ed.) II. 10 Should the shingles spread and become sore, it should be treated as directed below. 1815 J. F. Stephens Shaw's Gen. Zool. IX. i. 60 The green becomes gradually more brilliant..and spreads over the coverts of the wings and tail. 1864 R. Browning James Lee's Wife in Dramatis Personæ 8 But why must cold spread? 1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VI. 106 The readiness with which it [sc. sarcoma] spreads in upon..the pulmonary tissue. 1932 Boys' Life Apr. 48/4 From the breast of the bronzed raider a red stain spread slowly over the brown leaves of the forest floor. 1985 J. P. Kelly in B. Sterling Mirrorshades (1986) 96 It's an oozy kind of coolness spreading across the back of my skull.—like mud. 1988 New Yorker 26 Sept. 74/2 A holiday that had begun..in the lower Mississippi and had spread forth into such innocent milieus as eruptions in Iceland and flowing red lava in Hawaii. 2013 G. Albin Altered xiv. 125 I fight the panic spreading through my limbs. †(c) intransitive. to spread off: to lift or withdraw from. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away in all directions > move away in all directions (of things) spreada1382 dissipe1597 dispel1643 dissipate1660 break1827 to spread off1850 1850 G. Cupples Green Hand vii, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Jan. 81/1 The fog spread off the water near us. 9. (Without reference to an area being covered or occupied.) To become larger or wider; to be thrust or pulled outwards. Also: to move apart, to separate. Also with apart, out.Not always clearly distinguishable from sense 8. a. intransitive. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (intransitive)] greateOE grow1382 enlarge1481 to gain more feathers1600 spread1611 burnish1624 sizea1631 dilate1636 greaten1638 expatiate1650 widen1650 biggen1652 expand1791 magnify1814 the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separate, come, or go apart [verb (intransitive)] to-dealeOE shedc1000 asunderOE to-twemea1225 sunderc1225 twin?c1225 atwin?a1400 to make separationc1450 separe1490 twain15.. sever1545 unsever1609 spread1611 separate1638 disclaim1644 to come apart1764 to go separate ways1774 twine1886 1611 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdoms World (new ed.) i. 7 The more they decline from the Æquator, the more they spread in stature and talnesse. 1677 N. Cox Gentleman's Recreation (ed. 2) i. 72 Seek for his Slot: If he findes the Heel thick, and the Toe spreading broad, it argues an old Deer. 1721 J. Perry Acct. Stopping Daggenham Breach 52 A strong drift Work to be made,..to prevent the Dam from spreading and settling out at Foot. 1782 J. Warton Ess. on Pope (new ed.) II. vii. 55 The sybil..is likewise represented as spreading.., and growing larger and larger. 1784 M. Underwood Treat. Dis. Children 94 The gums swell, spread, and become hot. 1839 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 2 146/1 The violent vicissitudes of the seasons soon deranged the foundation.., and caused the [railway] track to spread. 1845 R. Bedingfield Peer & Blacksmith lx. 379 The form, always large, had spread to a great size. 1847 A. C. Smeaton Builder's Pocket Man. (new ed.) 146 The walls of a public building in Paris had spread, or..were thrown out of their perpendicular. 1871 Figure Training 110 The toes..spread widely, and in fan form, out. 1911 Decisions Comptroller Treasury 17 391 The walls had spread at the top sufficiently to seriously derange the adjustment of the lock gates. 1912 Pop. Sci. Monthly Feb. 139 Our toes should spread apart..when we put our weight on the forward part of the foot. 1922 A. Jekyll Kitchen Ess. 51 Try this recipe for Baked Roly-Poly... Should it spread whilst cooking, push into shape with a palette knife. 1937 Amer. Home Apr. 138/2 I could tamp and squeeze and pack like a veteran brickmaker, and my mold wouldn't spread apart. 1984 R. M. Pyle Audubon Soc. Handbk. for Butterfly Watchers xiii. 171 As the male's claspers spread apart, insert the female's rear with very little pressure. 1995 Best Wishes Spring 62/1 Stroke your baby's soles. This will set off the Babinski reflex—his toes will spread and the big toe will lift high in the air. 2011 D. R. George Star Trek Tryton Pact: Rough Beasts of Empire 55 His waist had spread some and his hair had gone white. b. transitive (reflexive). ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (reflexive)] spread1340 expatiate1650 spread1693 expand1776 1693 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 17 863 You shall immediately see..these minute Creatures..presently affected from the Acid Particles, so as to spread themselves, and tumble down seemingly dead. 1723 Philos Trans. (Royal Soc.) 32 157 Having moisten'd them, they spread themselves out further. 1807 Med. & Agric. Reg. May 262 Such limbs (well cleared of thorns) will spread themselves apart to receive the meliorating influence of the sun. 1856 Little Pilgrim July 53/2 Then the wonderful stranger asked if they would not like a better abode; and while he was yet speaking, the narrow walls spread themselves out, and the low roof lifted itself. 1863 H. W. Bates Naturalist on River Amazons II. iv. 283 Long, curved, hairy feathers having long bare quills, which, when raised, spread themselves out in the form of a fringed sun-shade over the head. 1909 M. F. Sanborn Canvas Door iii. 60 The toes spread themselves apart and curled up fascinatingly. 1914 Town Planning Rev. 4 312 The effect is not one of spaciousness, for every house looks as if it would like to spread itself, but is not allowed to do so. 1953 Jrnl. N.Y. Entomol. Soc. 61 84 The long legged macrocnema..usually spread themselves out flat on the moist sand. 2014 L. Walker Thorns of Rose 29 The sun shines brightly in the sky As the clouds spread themselves apart. 10. U.S. colloquial. To make a considerable effort, to exert oneself. Also: to draw attention to oneself, to show off. a. transitive (reflexive). Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > exert oneself [verb (reflexive)] afforcec1300 enforcec1386 virtuea1393 endeavourc1400 naitc1400 envirtue1477 exploit1490 to put it forthc1500 constrainc1510 efforce1512 lay1535 evirtuate1642 to exert oneself1736 hump1835 spread1843 to put about1983 the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > make ostentatious display [verb (reflexive)] to feat oneself fortha1400 peacocka1586 venditate1600 air1828 overplume1890 spread1891 showboat1984 1843 J. S. Robb Streaks Squatter Life 79 Hoss mounted the balcony of the hotel, and rolling up his sleeves ‘spread himself’ for an unusually brilliant effort. 1857 S. H. Hammond Wild Northern Scenes 266 He had promised..to spread himself in the preparation of this meal. 1891 E. Kinglake Austral. at Home 58 The gentleman who had just ‘spread himself’ was very angry at having the effect of his speech thus spoiled. 1892 E. Reeves Homeward Bound 204 I must (to use your slang) be allowed ‘to spread myself’ a little, and give you a minute account of everything I see. 1942 W. L. McAtee Rural Dial. Grant County, Indiana, in 'Nineties 61 Spread one's self,..assume airs, act ostentatiously. 1956 Princeton Alumni Weekly 23 Nov. 64/2 Hank really spread himself! The platter is a magnificent piece of silver intricately and amusingly designed. †b. intransitive. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > make ostentatious display or show off [verb (intransitive)] brandishc1340 ruffle1484 braga1556 swash1556 flourish1563 flaunt1566 prank1567 prink1573 to shake, wag the feather1581 peacockize1598 air1605 display1608 to launch it out1608 flasha1616 to cut it out1619 flare1633 vapour1652 peacock1654 spark1676 to gallantrize it1693 bosh1709 glare1712 to cut a bosh1726 to show away1728 to figure away, off1749 parade1749 to cut a dashc1771 dash1786 to cut up1787 to cut a flash1795 to make, or cut, a splash1804 swank1809 to come out strong1825 to cut a spludge1831 to cut it (too) fat1836 pavonize1838 splurge1844 to do the grand1847 to cut a swath1848 to cut a splurge1860 to fan out1860 spread1860 skyre1871 fluster1876 to strut one's stuff1926 showboat1937 floss1938 style1968 1860 J. G. Holland Miss Gilbert's Career x. 173 He sort o' stands round, and spreads, and lets off all the big talk he hears. 1884 ‘M. Twain’ Adventures Huckleberry Finn xxi. 179 He howled, and spread around, and swelled up his chest. 1897 W. D. Howells Landlord Lion's Head 376 One of the jays, who was spreading on rather a large scale, wanted Jeff to spread with him. III. Senses with main emphasis on distributing or covering something. 11. transitive. Often in passive. a. To set food, cutlery, crockery, and other items on (a table, board, etc.) in preparation for a meal. Also with with. Also intransitive with object understood. Cf. lay v.¹ 35b. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > setting table > [verb (transitive)] layc1300 spreadc1300 setc1386 servec1405 cover1563 to lay in1788 lie1809 fix1842 the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > arrange [verb (transitive)] > for or with something spreadc1300 aset1340 to set out1809 c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) (1963) l. 7128 (MED) Bordes hii lette sprede [c1275 Calig. breden], cnihtes þar-to sete. 1483 W. Caxton in tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. ccclxxxxv/1 They fonde the tables spredde redy sette ful. a1500 tr. La Belle Dame sans Mercy (Cambr.) l. 101 in F. J. Furnivall Polit., Relig., & Love Poems (1903) 84 The boordes wer spred in ryght lytell space. 1549 R. Crowley Psalter of Dauid xxiii. sig. f.ii^v Thou wylt spreade a table for me:..and fyl my cuppe with greate plentie. ?1566 J. Phillip Commodye Pacient & Meeke Grissill sig. B.i She spread the table and made me good cheare. 1614 C. Brooke in Englands Helicon (new ed.) sig. R2 The Board being spread, furnish't with various Plenties. a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) ii. ii. 190 Dromio, goe bid the seruants spred for dinner. View more context for this quotation a1640 F. Beaumont et al. Loves Cure iii. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) 133 I kept him Seaven daies in a darke Room by Candle-light, A plenteous Table spread with all good meats. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 276 We spread the Tables, on the greensword Ground. 1768 T. Gray Descent of Odin in Poems 90 Tell me..For whom yon glitt'ring board is spread. 1797 A. Radcliffe Italian II. x. 345 Schedoni, preferring to take his repast in the open air, a table was spread under the luxuriant shade of the forest-trees. 1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham I. xxiii. 196 Another table, still spread with the appliances of breakfast. 1868 M. M. Pomeroy Nonsense 214 They sat in the shade, smashing flies, while I spread for lunch. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate iv. 272 Valerie spread her grand-uncle's little table and placed his food before him. 1932 ‘L. G. Gibbon’ Sunset Song i. 52 He raged at her, telling her to spread a table with breakfast for the doctor. 1990 New Yorker 19 Feb. 50/2 We always spread the table at home for a foreign guest. b. To cause to occupy all or parts of the surface of; to apply a scattering of something over; to cover, overlay, deck, or strew. Also with over. Usually with with. Also figurative and in figurative contexts. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > cover [verb (transitive)] > spread or draw over (a thing) as covering for > bespread or cover with wryc950 bredeOE bridgeOE bespreadc1275 couchc1330 spreadc1330 cover1382 overspreadc1385 overlaya1400 overcast1440 to draw overc1450 ramplish1494 to lay over1535 c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 442 Þe forest was fair and wide, Wiþ wilde bestes y sprad. c1330 Gregorius (Auch.) (1914) 772 On bed he fel hir biside, Ysprad it was wiþ grene palle. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 15027 Þai spred þe strete wit cloth and flur. a1500 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Trin. Dublin) l. 1514 Than..[he] arayes all þe cyte, Spredes ouer with bawdkens all þe brode stretes. 1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes (new ed.) f. 14 Spite draue me into Borias raigne,..When hilles were spred and euery plaine, With stormy winters mantle white. 1589 A. Fleming tr. Virgil Georgiks iii. 46 in A. Fleming tr. Virgil Bucoliks T' vnderstrew or spread the bare ground with..Handfuls of ferne. 1611 Bible (King James) Isa. xl. 19 The goldsmith spreadeth it ouer with golde. View more context for this quotation 1693 J. Dryden tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires xvi. 315 The Courts of Judicature were hung, and spread; as with us. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 583 The Morn..Had scarcely spread the Skies with rosie Light. 1717 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 1 Apr. (1965) I. 342 The rooms are all spread with Persian Carpets. 1812 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Cantos I & II ii. vii. 64 Silence spreads the couch of ever welcome rest. 1826 E. Craven Mem. Margravine of Anspach I. vii. 249 The basset bank was opened, and the table spread with cards and ducats. 1859 Habits Good Society 88 He must be there..to spread the card-table and form the rubber. 1898 W. K. Johnson Terra Tenebrarum 141 And be the memoried tomb with rose-leaves spread. 1929 E. A. Roberts & E. Rehmann Amer. Plants for Amer. Gardens iii. 26 The outcropping ledges are veritable little rock gardens. Mosses and lichens spread them with soft grays and greens. 1991 ‘W. Trevor’ Reading Turgenev iv, in Two Lives (1992) 45 Sometimes he would..see one of the counters spread over with suspender-belts and roll-ons. c. To cover with a thin or even layer of some soft substance, as butter; to prepare by covering with such a substance. Also with over (the thing covered). Usually with with (the substance). Also intransitive with object understood, chiefly in imperative in recipes and other instructions.Quot. 1574 may belong at sense 11b. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > coating or covering with a layer > coat or cover with a layer [verb (transitive)] > smear or spread with a substance smear971 dechea1000 cleamc1000 besmearc1050 clamc1380 glue1382 pargeta1398 overslame?1440 plaster?1440 beslab1481 strike1525 bestrike1527 streak1540 bedaub1558 spread1574 daub1598 paste1609 beplaster1611 circumlite1657 oblite1657 fata1661 gaum?1825 treacle1839 butter1882 slap1902 slather1941 nap1961 1574 E. Hake Touchestone for Time Present sig. C4^v That breade can neuer be wholsome and good breade which hath once bene spreade ouer with ratten bane or other poyson. 1579 W. Fulke Refut. Rastels Confut. in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 783 What so euer remained..shoulde be giuen to..children..(not spred..with butter) but sprinkled with wine. 1621 T. W. tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard 6 Contenting himselfe to eate..a piece of bread spread with honey. 1676 R. Wiseman Severall Chirurg. Treat. iii. v. 230 I..applied a Pledgit spread with unguent. alb. camph. over all. 1726 N. B. Farrier's & Horseman's Dict. 42/2 Cut a Slice of a Wheaten Loaf, toast it well, then spread it with Honey on both sides. 1750 W. Ellis Country Housewife's Family Compan. 44 Spread it over with Butter, roll it up, and work it as before. 1827 W. Scott Surgeon's Daughter in Chron. Canongate 1st Ser. II. ii. 31 Every old woman..can prescribe a dose of salts, or spread a plaster. 1866 Godey's Lady's Bk. June 549/2 Split the cakes while warm, and spread with the cream. 1883 Housewife's Libr. i. xi. 164 Make a good biscuit dough, and roll about three-quarters of an inch thick, and spread with berries, preserves, or slices of apple. 1891 S. J. Cutter Palatable Dishes 371 Mix them well together, and spread the bread, then cut off in thin slices. 1905 Eng. Dial. Dict. VI. 128/2 Thunder-and-lightning,..bread spread over with cream and treacle. 1935 M. Struan Pop. Home Cookery 234 Press half the mixture in a well-buttered tin, and spread with the dates. 1960 E. David French Provinc. Cooking 208 The pissaladière is a substantial dish of bread dough spread with onions, anchovies, black olives, and sometimes tomatoes. 2002 Bon Appétit Sept. 102/3 Arrange 6 toast slices on work surface. Spread each with some aioli. 12. a. To distribute or disperse (a substance or a number of things, or a layer of something) over a surface or area; to throw here and there, to scatter. (a) transitive. Without reinforcing adverb. Frequently with prepositional phrase of place. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)] > scatter here and there at intervals > over an area spreada1325 a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 490 Or or flum noe spredde his fen. c1350 Nominale (Cambr. Ee.4.20) in Trans. Philol. Soc. (1906) 6* F[emme]. ble sye et fenz esparplie, W[oman]. scheruth corne and muk spredith. c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 76 Fore blak blood he se e-spred Apon þe aschelere euen. a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xv. 240 Ther sholde ye haue sein grete trouble of tables down-caste and the vitaile I-spredde wide. 1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 13^v Sawe dust spred thick, makes alley trick. c1600 (?c1395) Pierce Ploughman's Crede (Trin. Cambr. R.3.15) (1873) l. 301 (MED) Nou han þei..spicerie sprad in her purse to parten where hem lust. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 255 The flourie lap Of som irriguous Valley spread her store. View more context for this quotation 1723 H. Rowlands Mona Antiqua Restaurata iii. 14 Sometimes in inland turberies they find a layer of Marle, clay, or gravel, spread over that peaty fibrous matter. 1727 P. Longueville Hermit 168 Wanting a Tool to spread and turn his Grass, he takes a Branch off the next Tree. 1732 A. Bower Historia Litteraria 3 558 To complete his quackish Farce [he] spread printed Bills all over Paris. 1742 W. Ellis London & Country Brewer (ed. 4) I. 7 When the Malt is dried it must not cool on the Kiln, but be..spreaded wide in an airy Place. 1797 G. Staunton Authentic Acct. Embassy to China II. v. 417 On these rafts they spread a layer of soil, from whence they raise various kinds of vegetables. 1841 E. W. Lane tr. Thousand & One Nights I. 96 He poured out the powder into it, and spread it. 1875 J. D. Heath Compl. Croquet-player 89 Finely sifted earth must now be spread over the lawn. 1877 S. Hibberd Amateur's Kitchen Garden 158 Manure should be spread around the stool to insure some benefit to the roots of the [rhubarb] plant. 1895 R. W. Frazer Pearl of Temple in Silent Gods (1896) 57 The ryots who spread the water in the fields..lay dead before the rice was ready for reaping. 1914 J. Joyce Dubliners 144 Old Jack raked the cinders together..and spread them judiciously over the whitening dome of coals. 1950 T. Dale For Insurance against Drought (U.S. Dept. Agric. Farmers' Bull. No. 2002) 8 Make it [sc. runoff] run down a grassed waterway and then spread it over a pasture, meadow, or wooded tract. 2004 Horse Illustr. Apr. 66 A chain harrow is useful for spreading manure in your pasture. (b) transitive. With adverb reinforcing the sense, as about, abroad (now archaic), around. ΚΠ a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xxxii. 12 Þou hast spoken [altered from yspoken]..þat þou schuldist sprede abrode my seed: as þe grauell of þe see. c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 213 A clooth steyned or ymagis sprad abrood in dyuerse placis of the chirche. 1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Baucis & Philemon in Fables 157 Baucis..rakes the Load Of Ashes from the Hearth, and spreads abroad The living Coals. 1721 J. Wilson Let. 21 Jan. in I. Newton Corr. (1977) VII. 126 The Defamatory Writings they spread abroad on that Occasion, were without a Name. 1724 J. Swift Let. to Molesworth 15 Two Printed Papers clandestinely spread about. 1785 W. Cowper Task v. 221 When man was multiplied and spread abroad In tribes and clans. 1842 J. C. Loudon Suburban Horticulturist 392 If the materials are spread abroad during frost, it [sc. fermentation] is totally impeded. 1895 S. Crane Red Badge of Courage xii. 123 There seemed to be a great ruck of men and munitions spread about in the forest and in the fields. 1901 Jrnl. Polit. Econ. 9 595 The ‘Mercury Women’ who helped spread abroad the fledgling news sheets. 1934 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 17 May The old-fashioned heater spread fumes about. 1951 S. H. Bell December Bride ii. xviii. 212 The mair ye tramp in dung, the mair ye spread it around. 1990 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch (Nexis) 11 Dec. c2 Members bought corn for landowners who spread it around for quail. b. transitive. In passive. Of people, animals, etc.: to be scattered, dispersed, or distributed over or throughout an area. ΚΠ a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 650 And or he was on werlde led, His kinde was wel wide spred. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 3264 We ssolleþ hom abbe al uor noȝt..Vor hii beþ naked & onywar & ysprad wyde. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 169 Þerfore it is þat þey beeþ i-spred so wyde. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6046 O þam it was sua mani bredd, Ouer all þe land þan ware þai spredd. a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 1766 (MED) His squiers that fro hym fled, With sore strokys are they spred Vppon the wanne see. c1540 Pilgrim's Tale 99 in F. Thynne Animaduersions (1875) App. i. 80 Thes holy men beyn thus about sperd [read spred], Thorow all this lond, in euery sled. a1650 G. Boate Irelands Nat. Hist. (1652) xiii. 111 Little Tufts or Ilets..consisting of Reeds, Rushes, high sower Grass,..a few feet in compass;..These little Ilets or Tufts being..spread over all the Bog. 1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth IV. 302 The other [dromedary] is found spread over all the Desarts of Arabia. 1826 G. Samouelle Gen. Direct. collecting Exotic Insects & Crustacea 44 He met with a certain species of Papilio in abundance and spread all over the island. 1841 Penny Cycl. XX. 148/2 The Rook is spread over the greater part of Europe. a1886 W. Hillebrand Flora Hawaiian Islands (1888) 265 About 60 species,..a few littoral species spread through Polynesia. 1905 W. L. Sclater in W. Flint & J. D. F. Gilchrist Sci. in S. Afr. 134 The Hares..are spread all over the country. 1947 J. Stevenson-Hamilton Wild Life S. Afr. xxv. 205 This animal is spread throughout the Ethiopian region. 2010 J. Al-Khalili Pathfinders (2012) p. xxvi Its two main sects were the Nestorians..and the Monophysites (who were spread throughout Syria, Anatolia and Egypt). c. transitive. To apply (a substance) to an object or surface in a thin or even layer; to cover an object or surface with (a layer of something) thinly or evenly. Also intransitive with object understood, chiefly in imperative in recipes and other instructions. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > coating or covering with a layer > coat or cover with a layer [verb (transitive)] > smear or spread with a substance > smear (a substance) cleamc1000 smeara1400 spread?a1425 strike1525 splet1530 dab1592 stroke1594 sponge1607 daub1647 wipe1738 plaster1799 teerc1850 slather1866 cake1944 ?a1425 MS Hunterian 95 f. 165^v, in Middle Eng. Dict. at Spreden Ȝif a surgen doute þat his medicine drie to sone..þen he schal sprede it on a lefe. c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in MS Wellcome 564 f. 61 Take as myche of þe iuys of daies yȝe..Thanne sprede it on a lynnen clooþ. 1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. vii. sig. K^v On my breade any butter to be spreade. 1579 W. Fulke Refut. Rastels Confut. in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 783 The residue of the..bread..was giuen to..children.., whether to spredde their butter,..or to eate it with cheese, I cannot saye. 1611 Bible (King James) 1 Kings vi. 32 He..ouerlayd them with gold, and spread gold vpon the Cherubims, and..the palme trees. 1653 I. D. G. tr. F. P. de la Varenne French Cook 88 Take some cheese, melt it with some butter, on onion whole, or stamped..spread all upon bread. 1707 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1886) II. 43 He eats..Bread and Butter, which he spreads with his Thumb. 1787 T. Best Conc. Treat. Angling (ed. 2) 10 Spread a thin layer of shoemaker's wax over the slants. 1832 T. Brown Bk. Butterflies, Sphinxes & Moths I. iv. 75 It is a practice with collectors to entrap the large Tortoise-shell Butterfly..by spreading honey on the leaves of a tree which they are in the habit of frequenting. 1835 R. D. Hoblyn Dict. Terms Med. & Collateral Sci. 329/1 Melt..48 parts each of white wax and fine turpentine, and 32 parts of spermaceti, and spread on paper. 1870 Pall Mall Gaz. 23 Sept. 12/1 The unknown genius spreads butter upon his bread. 1911 Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 392/1 Upon the concrete foundation is first spread a layer of fine bituminous concrete. 1948 Good Housek. Cookery Bk. 587 Sandwich the cakes together with the filling, spreading some on the top also. 1967 Boston Globe 21 May 23/4 Use bleach which has been cut with water and spread on the counter tops. 2001 J. Franzen Corrections 405 Her guest..spread butter on her third healthy wedge of artisanal rye bread. 2002 J. Harris & F. Warde French Kitchen 55/1 Mix together the cream and Dijon mustard and spread over the pastry base. d. transitive. To place (a number of things, or the constituents of a whole) at a distance from each other; to distribute discretely over a surface or area. Frequently with adverb reinforcing the sense, as about, around, forth (now literary), out. Also with prepositional phrase of place. Also figurative. ΚΠ 1539 R. Morison tr. Frontinus Strategemes & Policies Warre iv. v. sig. Mvi His ennemie commyng downe on euery side to oppresse them..gaue the consull good occasion to range and spreade out his armie. ?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter cv. 298 Syng out, wyth iust accorde: and play in instrumentes: Tell all hys factes most meruelous: sprede out hys ornamentes. 1573 G. Gascoigne Hundreth Sundrie Flowres 388 The Turkes..Disorderly did spread their force. 1592 T. Kyd Spanish Trag. iii. sig. E3^v Ile spread the watch,..Strongly to guard the place where [etc.]. 1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. ii. sig. Aa3 On his head [was] an hood with aglets sprad. 1623 A. Simson Sacred Septenarie 215 The watchman looketh about to see the Sun spread out his beames, he knoweth that light doth not come from below. a1631 J. Donne Poems (1633) 135 The Sun-beames in the East are spred. 1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 36 There you see..men sitting upon a Carpet on the ground, with a great many Books spread round about them. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 298 Getulian Cities here are spread around. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. v. 180 We spread our ships in such a manner, that it was not probable any vessel of the enemy could escape us. 1763 J. Wheeler Botanist's & Gardener's New Dict. 303/1 Take up the roots of fine colchicums..and spread them out on a mat in a dry airy room. 1790 F. Burney Diary Jan. (1842) V. 85 The air of common employment was such, that..everything of that sort was spread about..—workboxes, netting-cases, c. c! 1791 S. Dobson tr. Petrarch View Human Life 241 A very rich gentlewoman of Campania womanishly spread forth her fair ornaments before her. 1809 A. Wilson Foresters in Port Folio 1 541 Hunks of bacon all around were spread. 1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna x. xxxviii. 231 Fix on high A net of iron, and spread forth below A couch of snakes, and scorpions. 1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. i. 13 Sometimes it is easy to spread these [flues] over one side or wall of the room. 1883 R. Broughton Belinda III. iv. iii. 213 She is sitting at the table, an open writing-case before her, papers and an hotel bill spread around. 1903 Mrs. De la Pasture Cornelius 7 A Crown Derby service was spread forth upon a round table. 1922 F. S. Fitzgerald Beautiful & Damned ii. i. 150 On his dressing-table were spread a number of articles..their tickets to California, the book of traveller's checks. 1965 M. Spark Mandelbaum Gate iii. 73 The crib-figures..were spread about on the glass top of a display cabinet. 1978 R. V. Jones Most Secret War (1979) ii. xxi. 355 Differences in speed and navigation between individual bombers caused them to be increasingly strung out and spread. 1985 R. Holmes Footsteps iii. i. 139 I wanted a table to spread my books. 2008 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 27 July (Educ. Life section) 13/2 To exchange cash for chips, spread out bills so none touches. 2012 Internat. Herald Tribune (Nexis) 3 Nov. 14 He spreads forth his preparatory work, a series of newspaper articles clipped, highlighted and taped onto paper. e. figurative and in figurative contexts, esp. in sense 12c, often with thin(ly) or thick(ly).See also sense 12g. (a) transitive. Miscellaneous uses.See also to spread it on thick at thick adv. 1c, to spread the wool over (a person's) eyes at wool n. 1g(b). ΚΠ a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1962) X. 51 Spread we this a little thinner, and we shall better see through it. 1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 209 In some places [a stream] spreads Meanders. 1658 J. Votier Vox Dei & Hominis ii. iii. 164 The Scripture is a treasure of precious promises..: They are spread thick upon the pages of holy writ. 1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. p. xliii They [sc. polite speeches] ought to be husbanded better, and spread much thinner. 1743 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Odes (new ed.) I. ii. i. 5 For whom the triumphs o'er Dalmatia spread Unfading honors round thy laurel'd head. 1783 R. Cumberland Let. to Richard Lord Bishop of Landaff 68 Lessen these emoluments, spread them thinly through the body of the poor parochial clergy. 1824 H. G. Spafford Gazetteer State N.-Y. (new ed.) 265/1 We might..convert our iron-ore and wood and water-power and labor, into money, and spread it, like manure, to enrich our own country. 1846 G. Grote Hist. Greece I. i. vi. 152 (footnote) The commentators..were disposed to spread a coating of history over these transactions. 1899 Christian Work 17 Aug. 252/1 To-day the amalgam of truth and error is spread more thickly over the minds of men than ever before. 1931 L. C. West Rom. Brit. i. 3 Roman culture apparently did more than spread a veneer of civilization over the land. 1934 L. Charteris Boodle i. 25 We have to spread it [sc. £1000] around to try and keep the starting price from shortening. 2009 Independent 8 Oct. 34/6 We do..have to spread the jam pretty thin in order to cover the wide array of needs and tastes of our large customer base. (b) transitive. to spread oneself thin and variants: to commit oneself to so many individual activities or areas that one's time, energy, resources, etc., are not used to good effect. Frequently in to spread oneself too thin. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake or apply oneself [verb (reflexive)] > undertake more than is practicable to spread oneself thin1871 overextend1909 the world > action or operation > endeavour > [verb (reflexive)] > attempt more than one can do overreacha1568 to spread oneself thin1871 overextend1909 1871 Pennsylvania School Jrnl. May 318/1 He can concentrate his efforts mainly upon a single subject,..and master it, or he can spread himself, thin, over a far greater surface. 1897 W. H. Preston Credits, Coll. & their Managem. v. 71 It is not often we find a man capable of spreading himself over a large number of interests without spreading himself too thin to be successful for any length of time. 1958 Jrnl. Higher Educ. 29 297/1 Teachers often try to spread themselves too thin over too many subjects. 1985 Times Lit. Suppl. 15 Mar. 284/4 The author spreads himself too thinly among too many characters. 2003 Vancouver Province (Nexis) 22 Apr. b5 Taking a bigger role in the writing and production, Madonna might have spread herself too thin this time. f. transitive. To set out (a meal, banquet, etc.) ready for eating. Also figurative and in figurative contexts. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > setting table > [verb (transitive)] > lay out meal set1575 spread1648 1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. xiii. 90 With this we spread our supper upon the green table-cloth. 1678 N. Tate Brutus of Alba v. 52 Love spreads a Feast, but you Fix Harpy Vows to drive me from the Dainties! 1785 W. Cowper Task i. 433 Beneath the open sky she spreads the feast. 1828 R. Duppa Trav. Italy 63 The table on which the last supper was spread is in the church of St. John Lateran. 1852 N. Hawthorne Blithedale Romance xxiv. 245 Some old-fashioned skinkers and drawers..were spreading a banquet. 1868 ‘H. Lee’ Basil Godfrey's Caprice II. xlvii. 313 Soon tea was spread on the round table. 1926 People's Home Jrnl. Feb. 9/3 The food..tended to induce those before whom it was spread to gormandize. 1980 P. O'Brian Surgeon's Mate x. 317 And now their dinner was spread..two pairs of fowls, a saddle of mutton, half a dozen side-dishes. 2014 Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Va.) (Nexis) 20 July The family spread a picnic on the beach. g. transitive. To divide and distribute among a number of people or things or over a period time or a number of things. ΚΠ 1720 Fatal Consequences Gaming & Stock-jobbing 8 Riches are not very unequally spread among Mankind. 1817 Asiatic Jrnl. & Monthly Reg. Dec. 599/2 Those whose contracts were spread over a greater number of voyages, had received less of those advantages. 1819 Minutes Evid. Lords Comm. to enquire into Bank of Eng. 34 Have you observed..that a Fall in Prices to the Amount of 5 per Cent, spread over the Space of a Year..has produced any great Inconvenience to Commerce? 1855 D. T. Ansted in Orr's Circle Sci.: Inorg. Nature 133 The knowledge needed by the artist..involves various inquiries, spread over many sciences. 1885 Act 48 & 49 Victoria c. 50 §11 The repayment of the money to be borrowed shall be spread over a series of years. 1914 Financial Times 23 May 5/6 Payment of 1s extra per day to be allowed to men whose hours of duty are ‘spread over’ more than thirteen hours per day. 1923 Labour Mag. 2 183/2 How it [sc. capitalism] is to be more widely spread at the beginning of this golden age for small capitalists. 1942 S. B. Hutchison & R. K. Winters Northern Idaho Forest Resources & Industries 44/2 The work has been spread more thinly among those still dependent upon lumbering for income. 1966 A. Battersby Math. in Managem. ix. 220 The familiar ‘economy of scale’ which results from spreading the fixed costs over a large number of items. 1986 O. Rackham Hist. Countryside xii. 262 The principle of pontage—spreading the repair cost of a bridge among the townships at some distance on either side of it. 2008 Wall St. Jrnl. 11 Feb. a3/1 The cost of tax breaks that allow companies to take deductions immediately, instead of spreading them over several years. h. transitive. U.S. To record or enter on a document. Chiefly in to spread on the record(s). ΘΚΠ society > communication > record > written record > record in writing [verb (transitive)] > enter on record writeOE setc1175 embreve?c1225 enrolc1350 enter1389 rollc1400 enact1467 act1475 enchroniclea1513 ascribe1532 re-enter1535 to put down1574 register1597 inscroll1600 emologea1639 spread1823 to book in1860 to sign on1879 log1889 sign1894 to sign out1916 to sign in1924 1823 Niles' Weekly Reg. 8 Feb. 412/2 This paper..ought to be spread on the records. 1845 J. F. Cooper Chainbearer II. iv. 44 It will greatly aid the reader..if I spread on the record the language that passed between my late agent and..his confidant. 1858 D. K. Bennett Chronol. N. Carolina 67 Resolved,..that they [sc. resolutions] be spread on the journals of both branches of the General Assembly. 1894 T. F. Robley Hist. Bourbon County, Kansas 184 Councilmen Dimon, White and Drake caused the following order to be spread upon the minutes. 1910 Atlantic Monthly Feb. 231 Achievements in that field are naturally not spread on the record. 1931 Randolph Enterprise (Elkins, W. Va.) 26 Mar. 1/5 Resolved that a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family, a copy spread on the minutes of the lodge, [etc.]. 1946 S. W. Mendum et al. Useful Rec. for Family Farms (U.S. Dept. Agric. Farmers' Bull. No. 1962) 23 Summarizing the results means using the facts spread on the records to answer questions. 2006 Congress. Rec. 152 19660/2 How can intelligence operatives report on the strengths and weaknesses of our allies when those conclusions will be spread on the record? 13. †a. transitive. To overrun or overspread (an area). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [verb (transitive)] > spread over or through (something) overgangOE overflowOE spread?c1335 overspreada1400 overflood1882 ?c1335 in W. Heuser Kildare-Gedichte (1904) 92 Þe erþe, þe watir þan sal sprede. c1400 Brut (Rawl. B. 171) 84 (MED) Þai..wenten oute of here shippis and spraden al þe contreye. a1425 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Linc. Inn) (1952) l. 4051 Alisaundre comeþ wiþ his pray His folk sprediþ al þe contray. 1579 T. Churchyard Miserie of Flaunders sig. B.i^v The countrey through, was spred and plaged sore. 1633 T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia i. ii. 22 MacGuire, who with some Horse (likewise dispersed) had spread a good circuit of ground, in hope..to get some bootie. 1654 E. Johnson Hist. New-Eng. 1 The multitude of irreligious..affected persons spred the whole land like Grasshoppers. 1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 116 Our Negroes spread the Banks of the Lake..for Game. 1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 68 The Gangren..had spread her whole Body. b. transitive. literary. To cover; to extend or be scattered, dispersed, or distributed over. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > extend [verb (transitive)] > extend over > extend over so as to cover overgroweOE wryc1275 overtakec1425 overreachc1440 overrun?1440 spread?1567 overcreep1640 cover1874 the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > cover [verb (transitive)] > form or act as covering for > by spreading overbredeeOE overgoOE overspreadc1230 overcomea1300 spread?1567 bespreada1664 ?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter iii. lxiv. 209 Behold thy pact: ones made (to vs) for darkenes pestilent: Is spred the earth: where theeues do dwell: both false and violent. 1606 J. Marston Parasitaster (rev. ed.) iii. sig. E The red that should haue spread her cheekes, nature let fal vpon her nose. a1657 G. Daniel Scattered Fancies xxiii, in Poems (1878) II. 57 When the bleake Face of winter spreads The Earth, and violates the Meads Of all their Pride. 1664 S. Blake Compl. Gardeners Pract. 76 Bay-trees are planted..chiefly in fore-Courts at a yard difference, to the end that they shall spread the wall. 1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii, in Fables 53 Rich Tap'stry spread the Streets. 1725 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. i. 173 A purple carpet spread the pavement wide. 1792 R. Sydserff Treat. Bees v. 55 The whole swarm..will spread the wall. 1800 T. Moore tr. Anacreon Odes xvii. 24 Now from the sunny apple seek The velvet down that spreads his cheek! 1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 130 Refreshing greenness spread the plain. 1876 D. Williams Poems 187 Higher rose the fiery cloud, Till like a shroud it spread the heavens, with thunders loud. 1908 N. Innes My Lady's Kiss xx. 288 A carpet spread the floor. 1948 T. Capote Other Voices, Other Rooms i. 27 A sea of deepening green spread the sky like some queer wine. †c. transitive. To be coextensive with; to extend the length or breadth of; to reach along. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > longitudinal extent > [verb (transitive)] > extend along the length of spread1670 1670 R. Norris in Adventures (Mr. T. S.) Eng. Merchant 248 There cometh always out of the West between the two Capes a Race of a Current which spreadeth the whole Streights-mouth from side to side. 1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 127 The head spreads the topgallant yard. 1895 ‘Q’ et al. Story of Sea I. 754 Sheets, the ropes spreading the lower courses of the square-sails. IV. Specialized senses. 14. transitive. Music. To play the notes of (a chord) in rapid succession rather than simultaneously; to play (notes) in this way. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > perform (music) [verb (transitive)] > specific style or technique squeak1577 tinkle1582 divide1590 shake1611 slur1746 da capo1764 rattlea1766 to run over ——1789 skirl1818 spread?1822 develop1838 arpeggio1864 propose1864 recapitulate1873 jazz1915 lilt1916 jazzify1927 thump1929 schmaltz1936 belt1947 stroke1969 funkify1973 scratch1984 scratch-mix1985 ?1822 W. Sheppard New Piano Forte Preceptor iv. 55 The performer is said to spread the Chords when (instead of striking all the notes together) he plays them one after the other. 1862 Musical Times 10 255/1 No chord or octave should be spread, unless it require an accent. 1873 H. C. Banister Music 17 The notes..are to be played..in Arpeggio,..or spread obliquely, as it is termed. 1938 Oxf. Compan. Music 48/1 Arpeggiare (It.), to play harpwise, i.e. (on the piano, etc.) to spread the notes of a chord, from the bottom up. 1953 W. Emery Bach's Ornaments 102 On the harpsichord or clavichord, a chord is often very much more effective when spread than when played sec. 1977 Gramophone June 68/2 The violinist also spreads some of his two-note chords. 1997 Early Music 25 504/1 This liveliness is obtained through..his nearly constant habit of spreading chords so that the top note falls on the beat. O'Dette tends to spread a lot of chords. 15. intransitive. Bridge. To show one's hand to prove that one can win all or none of the remaining tricks. Cf. spread n. 18. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > bridge > [verb (transitive)] > actions or tactics declare1895 promote1899 to lead up to1911 to take out1918 squeeze1926 push1927 spread1929 cash1934 overtake1939 underlead1945 finesse1960 1929 M. C. Work Compl. Contract Bridge 245 Spread, to ‘claim the rest’. 1964 R. L. Frey & A. F. Truscott Official Encycl. Bridge 520/1 Spread,..verb: to spread the hand, either as a claim or as a concession of the remaining tricks. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < n.a1500adj.?c1510v.OE
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spreadn.

spreadadj.

Compounds

spreadv.