Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - spread out

I. 1. If people, animals, or vehicles spread out, they move apart from each other. Felix watched his men move like soldiers, spreading out into two teams. PHRASAL VERB: V P 2. If something such as a city or forest spreads out, it gets larger and gradually begins to covers a larger area. Cities such as Tokyo are spreading out... PHRASAL VERB: V P 3. see spread 1 4. see spread 2 II. If people or things are spread out, they are a long way apart. The Kurds are spread out across five nations. ADJ: usu v-link ADJ