spread
/spred/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb:
- To open, arrange, or distribute over an area: To move parts (like arms or wings) away from each other, or to cause something to cover a surface or area.
- To apply a layer: To put a soft substance (like butter, jam, or paint) onto a surface in a thin, even layer.
- To become or make widely known or present: To move, communicate, or distribute something so that it reaches or affects many people or a large area.
- To extend over time: To arrange for something (like payments or work) to happen over a longer period.
Noun:
- The act or process of extending: The increase in the area, range, or influence of something.
- A soft food for applying: A soft food, like butter or cheese, that is meant to be spread on bread or crackers.
- A large or elaborate meal: A large meal with many different dishes, often for a special occasion.
- A decorative cover: A cloth cover for a piece of furniture, especially a bed.
- A printed feature across pages: Two facing pages in a newspaper or magazine that are designed as a single unit, often for a large advertisement or story.
- A difference between amounts: The difference between two related figures, such as prices or rates.
Adjective:
- Extended or distributed: Fully extended in width or distributed over a wide area.
Examples of Usage
Verb:
- She spread the map on the table to plan the route. (To open over an area)
- Please spread butter evenly on the toast. (To apply a layer)
- The fire spread quickly through the dry forest. (To become widely present)
- He spread the loan payments over five years. (To extend over time)
Noun:
- The rapid spread of the virus caused global concern. (The process of extending)
- This cheese spread is delicious on crackers. (A soft food for applying)
- They put out an incredible spread for the holiday dinner. (A large meal)
- The magazine featured a beautiful photo spread of the mountains. (A printed feature across pages)
- The spread between the bank's lending and deposit rates is its profit margin. (A difference between amounts)
Adjective:
- The eagle soared on spread wings. (Extended in width)
- The news is now spread throughout the community. (Distributed over an area)
Advanced Usage
"Spread oneself too thin": To try to do too many things at once, so that you cannot do any of them well.
- By joining three committees, he spread himself too thin and his work suffered.
"Spread the word": To tell people about something; to publicize.
- We need to spread the word about the charity event.
"Spread like wildfire": To become known or to happen very quickly.
- The gossip about their engagement spread like wildfire.
Variants and Related Words
- Outspread (adj/verb): Spread out to the fullest extent. ()
- Widespread (adj): Found or distributed over a large area or number of people. (Widespread damage.)
- Spreader (n): A tool for spreading something (e.g., a fertilizer spreader).
Synonyms
- Verb: Extend, unfold, scatter, disperse, circulate, propagate, disseminate, apply, smear.
- Noun: Expansion, dispersal, diffusion, proliferation, feast, banquet, cover, difference, gap.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Spread out:
- To open or stretch something fully. He spread out the blanket on the grass.
- To move apart from a central point. The crowd spread out after the concert.
- To extend over time. The project will be spread out over several months.
Spread over:
- To cover a surface. Jam was spread over the bread.
- To extend across a period of time. The payments are spread over two years.
Related Idioms
- A bedspread: A decorative cover for a bed.
- Middle-age spread: The tendency for people to gain weight, especially around the waist, as they reach middle age.
Adjective
- fully extended in width
- outspread wings
- with arms spread wide
- prepared or arranged for a meal; especially having food set out
- a table spread with food
- distributed or spread over a considerable extent
- has ties with many widely dispersed friends
- eleven million Jews are spread throughout Europe
Noun
- act of extending over a wider scope or expanse of space or time
- decorative cover for a bed
- the expansion of a person's girth (especially at middle age)
- she exercised to avoid that middle-aged spread
- two facing pages of a book or other publication
- a meal that is well prepared and greatly enjoyed
- a banquet for the graduating seniors
- the Thanksgiving feast
- they put out quite a spread
- a tasty mixture to be spread on bread or crackers or used in preparing other dishes
- a haphazard distribution in all directions
- farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
- a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures
- gap between income and outgo
- the spread between lending and borrowing costs
- process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
Verb
- distribute over a surface in a layer
- spread cheese on a piece of bread
- cover by spreading something over
- spread the bread with cheese
- move outward
- The soldiers fanned out
- strew or distribute over an area
- He spread fertilizer over the lawn
- scatter cards across the table
- become widely known and passed on
- the rumor spread
- the story went around in the office
- cause to become widely known
- spread information
- circulate a rumor
- broadcast the news
- spread out or open from a closed or folded state
- open the map
- spread your arms
- spread across or over
- A big oil spot spread across the water
- become distributed or widespread
- the infection spread
- Optimism spread among the population
- distribute or disperse widely
- The invaders spread their language all over the country