spread

distribute or disperse widely

• “The invaders spread their language all over the country”

become distributed or widespread

• “the infection spread”
• “Optimism spread among the population”

spread across or over

• “A big oil spot spread across the water”

spread out or open from a closed or folded state

• “open the map”
• “spread your arms”

cause to become widely known

• “spread information”
• “circulate a rumor”
• “broadcast the news”

become widely known and passed on

• “the rumor spread”
• “the story went around in the office”

strew or distribute over an area

• “He spread fertilizer over the lawn”
• “scatter cards across the table”

move outward

• “The soldiers fanned out”

cover by spreading something over

• “spread the bread with cheese”

distribute over a surface in a layer

• “spread cheese on a piece of bread”

process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space

a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures

• “gap between income and outgo”
• “the spread between lending and borrowing costs”

farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)

a haphazard distribution in all directions

a tasty mixture to be spread on bread or crackers

a meal that is well prepared and greatly enjoyed

• “a banquet for the graduating seniors”
• “the Thanksgiving feast”
• “they put out quite a spread”

two facing pages of a book or other publication

the expansion of a person''s girth (especially at middle age)

• “she exercised to avoid that middle-aged spread”

decorative cover for a bed

act of extending over a wider scope or expanse of space or time

distributed or spread over a considerable extent

• “has ties with many widely dispersed friends”
• “eleven million Jews are spread throughout Europe”

prepared or arranged for a meal; especially having food set out

• “a table spread with food”

fully extended in width

• “outspread wings”
• “with arms spread wide”