Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - spread

~1 v past tense and past participle spread 1 »OPEN OR ARRANGE« also spread sth out to open something so that it covers a bigger area, or arrange a group of things, so that they cover a flat surface  (spread sth on)  (Let's spread the map out on the floor. | spread sth over/across etc)  (She spread the towel over the radiator to dry. | The market women had spread out their goods on the pavement.) 2 »DISEASE/FEELINGS/PROBLEMS/FIRE« to increase, or be increased, and affect more and more people or affect a larger area  (The fire spread very quickly.) + through/to/across etc  (Cholera is spreading through the refugee camps at an alarming rate.) spread sth  (She's the sort of woman who enjoys spreading bad feeling.) 3 »INFORMATION/IDEAS« a) to become known about or used by people more and more  (News of the explosion spread swiftly.) + to/through/over etc  (Buddhism spread to China from India.) the word spread (=the news became known by more and more people)  (The word spread that Louise had resigned. | spread like wildfire (=become known very quickly)) b) to tell a lot of people about something  (spread lies/rumours/gossip)  (Andy loves spreading rumours about his colleagues. | spread the word)  (Can you spread the word that the meeting is at 10.30?) 4 »PEOPLE/PLANTS/ANIMALS« to begin to live or grow in other areas or countries  (throughout/over etc)  (The Moors spread all over Southern Spain.) 5 »SOFT SUBSTANCE« a) to put a soft substance onto a surface in order to cover it  (spread sth on/over)  (He spread plaster on the walls. | spread sth with sth)  (Spread the toast thinly with butter.) b) to be soft enough to be put onto a surface in order to cover it  (If you warm up the butter it'll spread more easily.) 6 »COVER A LARGE AREA« a) also spread out to cover or stretch over a large area + across/over etc  (Leafy branches spread above her forming a canopy.) b) be spread across/over etc to exist or be present over a large area  (The population is fairly evenly spread across the country.) 7 spread (out) your legs/arms/fingers etc to push your legs, fingers arms etc as far apart as possible 8 »DO STH GRADUALLY« also spread sth out to do something gradually over a period of time  (spread sth over sth)  (Could I spread the repayments over a longer period?) 9 »WORK/RESPONSIBILITY/MONEY« to share work, responsibility, or money among several people  (The work will be spread across the departments. | spread the load/burden)  (If we type five pages each that should help spread the load.) 10 »EXPRESSION« to gradually cover all of someone's face + across/over  (A mischievous grin spread over her face.) 11 spread seeds/manure/fertilizer to scatter seeds, manure etc on the ground 12 spread your wings to start to have an independent life  (A year spent studying abroad should allow him to spread his wings a bit.) 13 spread its wings if a bird or insect spreads its wings it stretches them wide 14 spread a/the table (with) old-fashioned to put food and drink on a table spread out phr v 1 if a group of people spread out, they move apart from each other so that they cover a wider area  (The detective ordered the officers to spread out and search the surrounding fields.) 2 T spread something out) to open something out or arrange a group of things on a flat surface  (Sue spread out her notes on the kitchen table and began to write.) 3 to cover or stretch over a large area  (A lush green valley spread out below us.) 4 T spread something out) to do something gradually over a period of time  (You can spread out the cost over a year.) ~2 n 1 increase the increase in the area, or number of people, affected by something, or in the number of people who do something  (the spread of)  (the spread of liberal ideas in the 19th century) 2 soft food a soft food which you spread on bread  (cheese/chocolate etc spread (=cheese, chocolate etc in a soft form)) 3 large meal informal a large meal for several guests on a special occasion  (She organized a marvellous spread for the soiree afterwards.) 4 range a range of people or things  (We have a good spread of ages in the department.) 5 double-page spread/centre spread a special article or advertisement in a newspaper or magazine, which covers two pages or covers the centre pages 6 hand/wings the area covered when the fingers of a hand, or a bird's wings, are fully stretched 7 a spread of land/water an area of land or water 8 farm AmE a large farm or ranch 9 money technical the difference between the buying price and the selling price of shares (share2 (5)) on the stock exchange  (- see also middle­aged (3))