an extent or, distance, or spread between two limits, e.g.:
a limited stretch of time, esp an individual's lifetime
the full reach or extent
the remarkable span of his memory
the distance or extent between abutments or supports, e.g. of a bridge
a part of a bridge between supports
= wingspan
the distance from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger of a spread hand
a former English unit of length equal to 9in. (about 0.23m)
[Old English spann]