▪ I. spread, n.
(sprɛd)
Also 5 spredd.
[f. the verb. Cf. LG. spredde, spreide, G. spreite.]
I. † 1. a bitter spread, a hard experience. Obs.
| c 1440 Bone Florence 1843 The maryner set hur on hys bedd, Sche hadd soone aftur a byttur spredd. |
2. a. The act of spreading in space; degree or extent of this.
| 1626 Bacon Sylva §676 No Flower hath that kinde of Spread that the Woodbine hath. 1733 W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farm. 129 Many and long Roots, which by their circular spread..are more than ordinarily capacitated to receive the fertile Benefits of the..Dung and Stale. 1784 Cowper Task vi. 145 These naked shoots.., more aspiring, and with ampler spread, Shall boast new charms. 1821 J. Baillie Metr. Leg., Wallace xxxii, Broad grew his breast with ampler spread. 1858 W. Eccles Guide Blenheim Palace (ed. 7) 13 Beeches, which have now attained a growth of such luxuriance and spread of branches. 1865 Cameron Malayan India 171 The trees being of one age are of a uniform height, thickness of trunk, and spread of top. |
b. With the: The extent, expanse, or superficial area of something.
| 1691 T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. 125 Determine the number of Men for sailing from the Spread of Canvas. Ibid. 127 Equations between the spread of Sails, and the Velocity of the Wind. a 1701 Maundrell Journ. Jerus. (1749) 142, I measured one of the largest [trees], and found it..thirty seven yards in the spread of its boughs. 1733 W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farm. 119 Raise a Border six or twelve Inches high, according to the spread thereof. 1840 Dana Bef. Mast xxiii, He knew..the spread of every sail.. in feet and inches. 1856 Olmsted Slave States 321, I found that the spread of its branches covered a circle of the diameter of forty-two paces. 1883 Stevenson Silverado Sq. 254 Under the immense spread of the starry heavens. |
c. Capacity for spreading or extending; tendency to spread or go apart.
| 1772 C. Hutton Bridges 58 The..thickness of a pier..shall just balance the spread or shoot of the arch. 1885 C. T. Davis Manuf. Leather 558 Skins dressed by this process,..it is claimed, are made soft, pliable, and with elasticity or spread. |
d. The point at which something spreads.
| 1896 Westm. Gaz. 25 July 3/1 A beautiful old orchard is full [of mud] to the spread of the trees' branches. |
e. Diamond-cutting. The width of a stone considered in proportion to its depth.
| 1813 J. Mawe Treat. Diamonds i. 47 The artist..has to examine carefully, in what direction the stone may be cut, so as to afford the greatest breadth, or spread as it is technically termed. 1930 W. R. Cattelle Precious Stones 62 Since the trade have found how important it is to have a proper ‘spread’ to the stone..there has been a tendency to demand stones too shallow for the best results. |
† f. Aeronaut. = span n.1 5 d. Obs.
| 1894 To-Day II. 171/2 The wings have a spread of twenty yards square. 1909 A. Berget Conquest of Air 188 The spread of the wings is 10·20 metres. 1912 C. B. Hayward Pract. Aeronaut. 262 The ratio of spread to depth (aspect ratio) of the monoplanes is usually less than that of biplanes. |
g. Econ. The difference between two rates or prices.
| 1919 A. C. Whitaker Foreign Exchange xii. 369 The spread between the local and the foreign money rates. 1928 Britain's Industr. Future (Liberal Industr. Inquiry) iv. xxiv. §7.331 The Linlithgow Committee..came to the conclusion that ‘the spread between the producer's and the consumer's prices is unjustifiably wide’. 1938 Sun (Baltimore) 8 June 6/1 Charges of price-cutting came into the open at a hearing May 19 on distributors' request for a wider ‘spread’ between the prices they paid for milk and those for which they sold it. 1978 N.Y. Times 29 Mar. b2/1 But adding to the rise in farm beef prices is the widening spread between what a cattle raiser gets for a steer and what a roast costs in the supermarket. |
h. The degree or manner of variation of a quantity among the members of a population or sample.
| 1929 Jrnl. du Counseil IV. 219 It has hitherto been the practice to employ such statistical methods as finding the mean length, median length, or semi-inter-quartile range in dealing with the ‘spread’ of length frequency groups. 1957 Practical Wireless XXXIII. 696/2 The current gain of the first stage transistor has been quoted as about 50 times, but it could be as low as 30 times, due to manufacturing spread. 1974 Listener 7 Nov. 595/2 Now there is a more even spread of intelligence and the skew in the graph is at both ends. |
i. The expansion of a person's girth, esp. at middle age; paunchiness. Also, an example of this. Usu. in phr. middle-aged spread: see middle-aged a. 1 b. colloq.
| 1930 Field 29 Nov. 775/2 An older woman..middle⁓aged, with, possibly, a ‘spread’. 1931, etc. [see middle-aged a. 1 b]. 1976 N. Thornburg Cutter & Bone iv. 86 Swanson could have passed for a decade older, having already achieved a comfortable middle-aged spread. |
3. a. With a: An expanse or stretch of something. Also, a spread-out layer or stream (quot. 1747).
| 1712 Addison Spect. No. 549 ¶3, I have got a fine Spread of improveable Lands. 1746 Hervey Medit. (1818) 99 Nearer the houses we perceive an ample spread of branches. 1747 Gentl. Mag. 311 Which made the corn run in a thin even spread under it. 1824 Examiner 71/2 A dark spread of calm water. 1840 Barret Water Colour Paint. 104 The sky at this time of the afternoon frequently exhibits a tender spread of yellow. 1880 Blackmore Mary Anerley II. 63 He struck into the gill from a trackless spread of moor. |
b. Naut. A display of sails.
| 1849 Cupples Green Hand vii. (1856) 64 The whole spread of her mizen and main canvass shining like gold cloth against the fore. 1889 Welch Text Bk. Naval Archit. ii. 40 A mastless ship requires less stability than one carrying a large spread of canvas. |
c. A ranch, esp. for raising cattle; a large farm. Also fig. orig. and chiefly U.S.
| 1927 W. R. James Cow Country 67 He'd paid a big price for the said spread, and he was lord and master there sure enough. 1947 Trail Riders Bull. Feb. 20/1, I wuz top bronc buster for the Tumblin' L spread. 1963 R. D. Symons Many Trails iii. 25 So he had a few dollars coming in, and could see his way, as he would have said, to running a ‘spread’. 1966 G. Durrell Two in Bush vi. 186 Harry, together with Bevan Bowan, took us out to a ‘spread’ not far from Canberra (a tiny little smallholding of some 200,000 acres) on which they were investigating another facet of the kangaroo's biology. 1973 J. Wainwright Devil you Don't 30 ‘The Ponderosa’ was his spread and no cheap, jumped up, fiddle-foot was gonna muscle in. 1981 J. Beeching Death of Terrorist iii. 34 He thought of his ranch up in Texas. ‘Not a big spread,’ he said modestly. |
d. Geol. A relatively thin sedimentary deposit.
| 1956 A. L. Armstrong in D. L. Linton Sheffield vi. 90 It is from these beds that the sands and gravels of the lower terraces and valley spreads were mainly derived. 1977 Antiquaries Jrnl. LVII. 187 Some sarsens..could be derived from chalk or Greensand as could the soliflucted spread in the Vale of Pewsey. |
e. Cytology. A microscopic preparation (as a smear or a squash) in which material is spread for observation rather than thin-sectioned, esp. for the purpose of showing chromosomes at metaphase.
| 1963 Stain Technol. XXXVIII. 284 Heteroploidy was not observed in any of the spreads, unlike those observed in long term cultures of rabbit endothelial cells. 1968 Brit. Med. Bull. XXIV. 261/2 Typical spreads produced in her laboratory show metaphase material in about one of very 50 fields of 100 × 100 µ. 1978 Nature 23 Mar. 325/1 Figure 2 shows the distribution of silver grains in autoradiograms of human metaphase chromosome spreads. |
4. The fact of being spread abroad, diffused or made known; diffusion, dispersion: a. With a.
| 1675 R. Burthogge Causa Dei 389 Of so large a spread then was the knowledge of God. 1732 Neal Hist. Purit. (1822) I. 18 The translation of the New Testament by Tyndal..had a wonderful spread among the people. 1760–2 Goldsm. Cit. W. lxiii, The period of renewed barbarity began to have an universal spread much about the same time. 1805 Southey in C. C. Southey Life (1850) II. 324 It would yield either to a general spread of knowledge..or to the unrestrained attacks of infidelity. |
b. With the and of. (The common use.)
| 1750 Abp. Herring in J. Duncombe Lett. (1773) II. 271, I cannot account for the large spread of the story. 1785 Cowper Let. J. Newton 24 Sept., While the spread of the gospel continues so limited as it is. ― Let. W. Bagot 9 Nov., [The Bishop's charge] deserves the most extensive spread. 1855 Prescott Philip II, ii. iii. I. 321 It may seem strange that the spread of the reformed religion should so long have escaped..the Holy Office. 1891 Speaker 2 May 534/1 The growth of education and the spread of scientific training. |
c. Without article.
| 1864 E. A. Parkes Pract. Hygiene i. xvii. 429 The conditions of spread of [yellow fever in a ship] are probably as favourable as in the most crowded city. 1897 Allbutt's Syst. Med. II. 89 The disease disregards anatomical boundaries,..the direction of spread being determined..by contiguity. |
d. Billiards. A rebound of a cue ball from the object ball at a considerable angle from its former course. U.S.
| 1858 M. Phelan Game of Billiards (ed. 3) 102 To effect a ‘spread’ it is not necessary to hit the object-ball so far off from the centre as would appear at the first glance. 1913 M. Daly Daly's Billiard Bk. iii. 46 Try the same plan for the dead follow and the dead ‘spread’ (wide angle carom). |
II. † 5. ? A long oar or sweep. Obs.—1
| 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 26 These Boats are as large as one of our Ware-Barges,..but padling with Paddles instead of Spreads, and carry a great Burthen with little trouble. |
6. a. slang. Butter.
| 1812 J. H. Vaux Flash Dict., Spread, butter. 1865 Slang Dict., Spread, butter, a term with workmen and schoolboys. |
b. Any substance suitable for spreading on bread to make it tasty, such as paste or jam. orig. U.S.
| 1866 Hours at Home III. 507/2 A late rebel told me that, while with Lee upon the Gettysburgh campaign, he went to a farm-house one day and demanded some ‘spread’, as they call marmalade in that matter-of-fact country. 1886 F. R. Stockton Casting away of Mrs. Lecks 40 There was some sort of jam left at the bottom, so that the one who gets the last biscuit will have some⁓thin' of a little spread on it. c 1938, etc. [see sandwich spread s.v. sandwich n.2 3]. 1962 M. Duffy That's how it Was xiii. 107, I had to..mix up some chocolate spread from cocoa, sugar and a little milk. 1972 Daily Tel. 11 Nov. 2/7 There were increases of 3·41 per cent in the prices of jams, honey, and spreads. |
7. colloq. A banquet, feast, meal.
Common from about 1825.
| 1822 Gentl. Mag. XCII. i. 31 Spreads on the grass for the better sort of people. 1844 J. T. J. Hewlett Parsons & W. vi, I gave very correct feeds—spreads we used to call them. 1893 Vizetelly Glances Back I. xv. 300 He..was a constant attendant as these little spreads. |
8. a. A bed-cover, coverlet. orig. U.S.
Prob. after Du. sprei († sprey, spree) or G. spreite (dial. spreit, spreet, LG. spreed). Kilian gives spreeder and bed-spreeder as current in Du. and Fris. of his time. The comb. bed-spread, given as local U.S. by Bartlett (1848), is now also common in English use.
| 1852 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xx, [She would] flourish the sheets and spreads all over the apartment. 1888 Pall Mall. G. 1 Nov. 3/2 Each bed..was provided with a feather tick; but the night being warm these spreads were thrown off. |
b. A shawl (Slang Dict. 1859).
9. An article or advertisement displayed prominently in a newspaper or periodical; spec. printed matter occupying two facing pages. Also fig. orig. U.S.
| [1858 O. W. Holmes Autocrat of Breakf.-Table 131 One gives a ‘spread’ on lines, and the other on paper—that is all.] 1877 Harper's Mag. Dec. 50/1 His remarkable ability is best seen when occasion arises for a ‘spread’. 1924 in Webster. 1931 Week-End Rev. 7 Nov. 563/2 The inclusion of a four-page ‘spread’, printed in two colours. 1940 [see centre spread s.v. centre n. 19]. 1951 M. McLuhan Mech. Bride (1967) 61/1 Another full-page spread shows a threesome in a panic. 1956 H. Kurnitz Invasion of Privacy xviii. 117 The afternoon papers, and the late radio broadcasts..had given the Morley case a big spread. 1969 A. Glyn Dragon Variation viii. 238 You'll give the match a good spread in your papers, won't you, Paul? 1972 D. Lees Zodiac 7 Get a centre page spread with pictures. |
10. U.S. Stock Exchange. A contract combining the option of buying shares of stock within a specified time, at a specified price above that prevailing when the contract is signed, and the option of selling shares of the same stock within the same time, at a specified price below that prevailing when the contract is signed. Cf. spread eagle n. 4 b, straddle n. 2 a.
| 1879 in Webster. 1885 Harper's Mag. Nov. 844/1 A ‘straddle’..differs from the ‘spread’ in that the market price at the time of purchase is filled into the latter, while in the ‘straddle’ the price may vary from that of the market, by agreement or otherwise. 1900 S. A. Nelson ABC of Wall St. 160 Spread. This is a double stock privilege which entitles the holder to the right to deliver or demand a certain amount of stock on specified terms, or grain price differences between different options, or between the same option in different cities, or between the put and call price. 1957 Clark & Gottfried University Dict. Business & Finance (1967) 332/1 If a stock is selling at 100, a speculator may buy a spread option for $5 per share, with a spread in the buying and selling prices of 5 points up or down. Thus, if the stock later goes below 90 (including the 5 point spread and the 5 point cost of the option), it can be sold at a profit. 1970 Sloan & Zurcher Dict. Econ. (ed. 5) 412 Spread, as applied to security trading, two separate options, a put..specifying a price below the prevailing market, and a call..specifying a price above the prevailing market, both options applying to the same security and expiring on the same date. |
11. Bridge. (See quot. 1929.) Cf. spread v. 17.
| 1929 M. C. Work Compl. Contract Bridge 245 Spread, a hand which Declarer can show in proof of his ability to win all thirteen tricks. 1977 Field 13 Jan. 65/1 Only the duplication of values prevented the contract from being a spread. |
12. a. Geol. An array of seismometers used simultaneously to detect and record disturbances resulting from a single shot in a geophysical survey.
| 1942 Geophysics VII. 138 The problem of the wide shot spread is much more complicated than that of the vertical shot. 1945 Ibid. X. 351 To correct for these weathering variations a series of short refraction shots was taken at each recording spread. 1962 Jrnl. Geophysical Res. LXVII. 2852/2 The method used was to keep the geophone spread fixed and to move the shot away from the spread. 1977 A. Hallam Planet Earth 29/1 Large spreads of seismometers have recently been set up, one of the largest being in Norway. |
b. Oil Industry. The total assemblage of men and equipment needed for a particular job, esp. laying a pipeline.
| 1974 Petroleum Rev. XXVIII. 765/1 The prospect of lay barge spreads capable of operating in depths of up to 1,000 feet certainly posed problems. 1975 North Sea Background Notes (Brit. Petroleum Co.) 32 The land line was laid in three spreads, two working between the Tay and Cruden Bay and the third from the Tay to Grangemouth. 1976 Offshore Platforms & Pipelining 175/3 Two of the pipeline spreads will use automatic welding. |
Add: [I.] [2.] j. N. Amer. Sport. The difference between the number of points (goals, etc.) scored by competing teams in a match, esp. a winning margin; spec. in Betting, = point spread s.v. *point n.1 D. 19; also, = goal difference s.v. goal n. 6.
| 1945 Newsweek 12 Feb. 78/2 A point system was established in hoop betting, and bookmakers protected themselves with a two-point ‘spread’. 1951 Chicago Daily News 17 Jan. 34/3 The former player said he would not know until before the game what the final betting ‘spread’—the difference in the point score—would be. 1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 17 Feb. 39/7 If Canada ties Russians, Swedes beat Czechs—Russia wins gold on goal spread, Canada takes silver... Russia has the best spread—33. 1980 Washington Star 20 Nov. c7 Eagles and Falcons (both 9-2), continue to share the NFL's best record at beating the spreads. 1988 Ice Hockey News Rev. 19 Nov. (Suppl.) 3/1 The brilliant Czech did it again..with a marker which opened up a 2 goal spread in Flyers favour. |
▪ II. spread, v.
(sprɛd)
Forms: inf. α. 3 spræde, 3–6 (9 dial.) sprede (3–4 -en, 5 -yn); 5 spreede, 7, 9 dial. spreed; 5 spreyde, 6 Sc., 9 dial. spreid; 6 spreade, 6– spread (9 dial. spreead). β. 4 spredd, 4, 6 spredde (6 arch. -en), 4, 6–7 spred. γ. 4 sprad, 6 Sc. spraid, 9 dial. sprade. 3rd sing. pres. 2–4 spret (2, 4 sprat). pa. tense. α. 3–5 spradde, 4–5 (9 dial.) sprad; 4, 6 (9 dial.) sprade. β. 3–6 spredde, 4 spredd, 4–7 (9 dial.) spred, 7– spread. γ. 7 spreded, 9 dial. spreeded, Sc. spreidit. pa. pple. α. 2–4 i-sprad, 3–4 y-sprad (4 -spradde), 6 i-sprode; 3–6 (9 dial. and arch.) sprad (5 spradde). β. 2–4 i-spred (4 hi-), 4 y-spred, 5 e-spred; 3–4 spredd, 3–7 (9 dial.) spred (4 sprid), 4–7 spredde; 5 Sc. spreid, 6 (9 dial.) spreed, 7 sprede; 6 spreade (Sc. spraid), 7– spread. γ. 5 spraden, 9 spreaden, spredden (dial. spreeden, etc.). δ. 6 spredded, 8 spreaded.
[OE. sprǽdan (in combs., esp. tó-sprǽdan, and sprǽdung), = OFris. *sprêda (WFris. spriede, NFris. spriad, spreer), MDu. spre(e)den (WFlem. spreeden, spreen), spreiden, (Du. spreiden, spreien), MLG. and LG. sprêden, spreiden (LG. also spreen, spreien), OHG. spreitan (MHG. and G. spreiten, G. dial. sprêten); not native in Scand., Da. sprede († spree) and Sw. sprida (MSw. spridha, spredha) being from LG. The ultimate etymology is uncertain.]
I. trans.
1. a. To stretch or draw out (a cloth, etc.) so as to display more or less fully; to open out or lay out so as to cover or occupy some space.
| c 1200 Ormin 1015 Witt tu þatt an waȝherifft Wass spredd fra wah to waᵹhe. c 1205 Lay. 1215 Seoððen he nam þe hude..of þare hinde, bi-foren þan wefede he heo spradde. c 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 117 Almerle his banere sprad, & oþer barons mo. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 61 But þe Romayns wyfes..wente wiþ hir heer i-sprad. c 1400 St. Alexius (Trin. Coll. Oxf. 57) 460 Þat writ anon he gan sprede, And by-fore hem alle rede. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 115 Wherfor mony..spradden cloþys in þe way. 1533 Wriothesley Chron. (Camden) I. 21 Their was a raye cloath, blew, spreed from the highe desses of the Kinges Benche unto the high alter of Westminster. 1594 Kyd Cornelia i. 74 The golden Sunne, where ere he driue His glittring Chariot, findes our Ensignes spred. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 227 These two did spread a Turkie carpet on the rocke, and on that a table⁓cloth. 1652 Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 97 To have..Nets spread between stakes driven into the Sea. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 361 Spiders in the Vault their snary Webs have spred. 1733 W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farm. 111 Lay, chamber, and spread their Roots, so that the Fibres might not touch one another. 1823 F. Clissold Ascent Mt. Blanc 22 A soft breath of wind spread its folds, and floated it gently in the air. 1848 Dickens Dombey xxvi, The Major..sent the Native—who always rested on a mattress spread upon the ground..—to light him to his room. 1902 R. Bagot Donna Diana xvii. 335 He spread the newspaper on the table before him. |
| transf. and fig. 1370–80 Visions St. Paul 242 in O.E. Misc., His owne cha[r]tre haþ he rad, Þat his synnes were inne isprad. c 1440 J. Capgrave Life St. Kath. v. 1824 Spreede me in thi mercy, lete me neuere falle In to myn enemyes handes. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 275 b, Holy charite..dilateth & spredeth the herte of man or woman. 1638 Penit. Conf. vii. (1657) 128 All sins are not so necessarily to be spread before the Priest. 1671 Milton Samson 1147 Invocate his aid.., spread before him How highly it concerns his glory now To [etc.]. 1715 Pope Iliad i. 65 A sudden night he spread, And gloomy darkness roll'd around his head. 1780 Mirror No. 101, The toils which her own imagination, and the art of Marlow, had spread for her. 1802–12 Bentham Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827) V. 123 It is not for the purpose of advocating, but of reprobating exclusion of testimony, that these remarkable cases are spread upon the carpet. |
b. spec. To expand, unfurl, or set (sails).
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2828 Hor seiles hii spredeþ in þe se & hider hii comeþ iwis. 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 111 They shall spread their sailes to go towards those parts that the King intendeth. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. i. xxviii, The whole Fleete hauing wayed, did then begin to cut and spread their sayles. 1611 Bible Isaiah xxxiii. 23 They could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the saile. 1697 Dryden æneid vi. 418 He spreads his canvas; with his pole he steers. a 1721 Prior Dial. betw. Charles & Clenard 353 A large Ship going out of Port, Charles, with her Sails all spread. 1781 Cowper Truth 5 Man, on the dubious waves of error toss'd,..Spreads all his canvass. 1823 Scott Quentin D. xxv, Not a French banner has been borne down, not a sail spread from England. |
c. Const. on, over, under, upon.
| 1382 Wyclif 2 Kings. viii. 15 He toke an couerlyte,..and spradde vpon his face. 1535 Coverdale Numb. iv. 13 They shal..sprede a clothe of scarlet ouer it. Ibid. 14 They shal sprede a couerynge of doo skynnes theron. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. 94 Thair heid thay laid vpon..a groffe seck spred vndir thame. 1611 Bible Job xxvi. 9 Hee..spreadeth his cloud vpon it. ― Isaiah xxv. 7 He wil destroy..the vaile that is spread ouer all nations. 1746 Francis tr. Hor., Sat. ii. iv. 102 What!..on foul couches Tyrian carpets spread? 1761 Gray Fatal Sisters 31 Gondula, and Geira, spread O'er the youthful king your shield. 1820 Scott Monast. x, I should have spread my mantle over the frailties of my spiritual father. 1837 P. Keith Bot. Lex. 399 Each membrane represents a bag or sac, without any opening, spread upon the organs. |
d. To display in wide extension.
| 1600 Fairfax Tasso vi. xxii, A goodly plaine displayed wide and broad, Betweene the citie and the campe was sprad. 1764 Goldsm. Trav. 411 Where wild Oswego spreads her swamps around. 1766 ― Vic. W. viii, Where wilds, immeasurably spread, Seem lengthening as I go. 1807 J. Barlow Columb. i. 220 He saw, thro' central zones, the winding shore Spread the deep Gulph. 1838 Thirlwall Greece xxxiv. IV. 345 The Euxine spread its waters before their eyes. 1889 S. Langdon Appeal to Serpent i. 12 The magnificent vision which lay spread beneath when the great city came up close to the ‘holy mountain’ itself. |
e. To flatten out; to make of a thin flat form.
Used spec. with ref. to diamonds: see quots. 1704–6 and 1850.
| 1704 Lond. Gaz. No. 4034/4 A seven Stone Diamond Ring,..the middle Stone weighing about 5 Grains spread. 1706 Ibid. 4200/4 The Diamond weighing near 11 Grains, well spread, and of a perfect Water. 1811 Pinkerton Mod. Geog. Polynesia (ed. 3) 522 The nose is always spread at the point, perhaps owing to the mode of salutation, in which they press their noses together. 1850 Holtzapffel Turning III. 1322 This cut is employed upon such stones as are thin, and large on the surface, or, as it is called, much spread. 1900 Hasluck Mod. Eng. Handy-bk. 129 Small drills..are generally made by filing the round steel wire..and then spreading the small end with a single blow from a..hammer. |
f. To thrust (walls) out or apart.
| 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §274 The whole would lie upon the ledges like a single stone, without any tendency to spread the walls. |
g. Mus. To play (the notes of a chord or a chord itself) in rapid succession instead of simultaneously.
| 1873 H. C. Banister Music 17 The notes..are to be played..in Arpeggio,..or spread obliquely, as it is termed. 1938 Oxf. Compan. Mus. 48/1 Arpeggiare (It.), to play harpwise, i.e. (on the piano, etc.) to spread the notes of a chord, from the bottom up. 1953 W. Emery Bach's Ornaments 102 On the harpsichord or clavichord, a chord is often very much more effective when spread than when played sec. 1977 Gramophone June 68/2 The violinist also spreads some of his two-note chords. |
2. † a. To draw or stretch out (the limbs or a person) in some form of punishment or torture. Obs.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 390 His leoue licome þet was ispred o rode. a 1240 Ureisun in O.E. Hom. I. 185 Hwi nam ich in þin earmes..swa istrahte and isprad on rode. a 1300 Cursor M. 16668 Þai..ledd him þan to þe rode tre, and þar⁓on þai him spred. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints iii. (Andrew) 410 Gyf þat I dred Þe croice, quhare-in criste wes spred, Þe Ioy of it I na prechit ȝow. c 1450 Myrr. our Ladye 249 The mother se her sonne cruelly spredde on the crosse. c 1475 Henryson Orph. & Euridyce 149 Turnand a quhele.., And on it spred a man hecht ixione. 1526 R. Whitford Martiloge (1893) 100 So were they sprad vpon a gredyren w{supt} hote coles & broyled. |
b. To lay down with the limbs relaxed.
| 1693 Dryden Juv. vi. 85 Many a fair Nymph has in a Cave been spread, And much good Love, without a Feather-Bed. 1697 ― Virg. Past. x. 21 Mænalian Pines the God⁓like Swain bemoan, When spread beneath a Rock he sigh'd alone. |
3. a. To send out in various directions so as to cover or extend over a larger space. Also fig.
| a 1200 Vices & Virtues 45 Carite sprat his bowes on bræde and on lengðe swiðe ferr. a 1225 Ancr. R. 400 Þe soðe sunne..was forði istien on heih..uorto spreden ouer al hote luue gleames. c 1400 Cursor M. 27877 (Cott. Galba), Glotony and dronkinhede, ful mani branches out þai sprede. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 30 Than grace spredeth her beames, that all the soule of man is bryght as a lanterne. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Pando, The elme spreadeth the branches or boughes. 1615 W. Lawson Country Housew. Gard. (1626) 23 Looke how far a tree spreads his boughs aboue, so far doth he put his roots vnder the earth. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 643 Pleasant the Sun When first on this delightful Land he spreads His orient Beams. |
b. To hold out, stretch out, extend (the hands or arms).
| c 1250 Kent. Serm. in O.E. Misc. 31 Ure lord him..spredde his hond, and tok his lepre. a 1300 Havelok 95 And oþer he refte him hors or wede, Or made him sone handes sprede. a 1340 Hampole Psalter cxlii. 6, I spred my hend till þe. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 124 He..fell downe to þe grownd, wyth hys armes sprad abrod, as Crist sprad hys armes on þe cros. a 1529 Skelton ‘Now synge we’ 60, I hold my armes abrode, The to receyue redy isprode! 1628 Milton Vac. Exerc. 93 Trent, who like some earth-born Giant spreads His thirsty Armes. 1781 Cowper Charity 596 Like him, the soul..Spread wide her arms of universal love. 1815 Shelley Alastor 183 He..spread his arms to meet Her panting bosom. 1842 Tennyson Talking Oak 225 Then close and dark my arms I spread, And shadow'd all her rest. |
c. To extend, open out (the wings, etc.).
| 1390 Gower Conf. I. 173 He sprat his wynge and up he fleth. c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton) v. i. (1859) 69 They rysen, and mounten ferre fro the erthe, and spreydyn theyr wynges. 1663 Bp. Patrick Parab. Pilgr. xv, He rejoyced to spread his healing wings over every place. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 928 At last his Sail-broad Vannes He spreads for flight. 1784 Cowper Task iii. 135 The fly, That spreads his motley wings in th' eye of noon. 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam vi. xlv, When the earth..Shook with the sullen thunder, he would spread His nostrils to the blast. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. iii. v. iii, Swift-rending is her stroke; look what a paw she spreads. |
d. To extend, make larger or wider. rare.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 399 He bulde newe citees..and sprad þe endes of his kyngdom wydder þan dede his fader. c 1400 Bray Conq. Irel. (1871) 295 The Pope..grauntyd the Kyng that he shuld ynto Irland wend for to..spred the termys of holy Churche. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. 147 To spred the boundes of that Jmpire baith braid and wyde. |
4. a. To distribute or disperse (a substance or a number of things) over a certain superficies or area; to scatter.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 490 Or or flum noe spredde his fen. c 1340 Nominale (Skeat) 118 W[oman] scheruth corne and muk spredith. c 1394 P. Pl. Crede 301 Nou han þei..spicerie sprad in her purse, to parten where hem lust. 1426 Audelay Poems 78 Fore blak blood he se e-spred Apon the aschelere even. c 1450 Merlin xv. 240 Ther sholde ye haue sein grete trouble of tables downcaste and the vitaile I-spredde wide. 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 33 Sawe dust spred thick, makes alley trick. 1592 Soliman & Pers. v. ii, Spredding on the boord A huge heape of our imperiall coyne. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 255 The flourie lap Of som irriguous Valley spread her store. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 36 There you see..men sitting upon a Carpet on the ground, with a great many Books spread round about them. 1727 Philip Quarll (1816) 42 He was busy..in turning and spreading the grass. 1742 London & Country Brew. i. (ed. 4) 7 When the Malt is dried it must not cool on the Kiln, but be..spreaded wide in an airy Place. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 611 For grass land..half as much [marl], thinly and evenly spread, will generally suffice. 1841 Lane Arab. Nts. I. 96 He poured out the powder into it, and spread it. 1895 R. W. Frazer Silent Gods, Pearl of Temple (1896) 57 The ryots who spread the water in the fields..lay dead before the rice was ready for reaping. |
b. To distribute in a thin layer; esp. to smear. Also fig. (quot. 1731–8).
| 1558 Warde tr. Alexis' Secr. 28 Than hauyng put to it the Storax, spredde it vpon a linnen cloth. 1579 Fulke Refut. Rastel 783 The residue of the..bread..was giuen to..children.., whether to spredde their butter,..or to eate it with cheese, I cannot saye. 1611 Bible 1 Kings vi. 32 He..ouer⁓layd them with gold, and spread gold vpon the Cherubims, and..the palme trees. 1731–8 Swift Polite Conv. Introd., They [polite speeches] ought to be husbanded better, and spread much thinner. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 207 A small quantity of the amalgam, spread upon another piece of leather. 1870 Pall Mall G. 23 Sept. 12/1 The unknown genius spreads butter upon his bread. |
c. To place in an open or expanded manner; to distribute over a certain space, time, etc.
| 1592 Kyd Sp. Trag. iii. iii. 101 Ile spread the Watch,..Strongly to guard the place where Pedringano [etc.]. a 1631 Donne Epithalam. Linc. Inn 1 The Sun-beames in the East are spred. 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 209 In some places [a stream] spreads Meanders. 1743 Francis tr. Horace, Odes ii. i. 5 For whom the triumphs o'er Dalmatia spread Unfading honors round thy laurel'd head. 1748 Anson's Voy. ii. v. 180 We spread our ships in such a manner, that it was not probable any vessel of the enemy could escape us. 1827 Faraday Chem. Manip. i. (1842) 13 Sometimes it is easy to spread these [flues] over one side or wall of the room. 1855 Orr's Circ. Sci., Inorg. Nat. 133 The knowledge needed by the artist..involves various inquiries, spread over many sciences. 1885 Act 48–49 Vict. c. 50 §11 The repayment of the money to be borrowed shall be spread over a series of years. |
d. To lay out (a meal, banquet, etc.).
| 1784 Cowper Task i. 433 Beneath the open sky she spreads the feast. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxxviii, At a banquet spread under a gay awning. 1828 Duppa Trav. Italy, etc. 63 The table on which the last supper was spread is in the church of St. John Lateran. 1852 Hawthorne Blithedale Rom. xxiv, Some old-fashioned skinkers and drawers..were spreading a banquet. 1868 Holme Lee B. Godfrey xlvii, Tea was spread on the round table. |
e. To record or enter on a documentary record. U.S.
| 1845 J. F. Cooper Chainbearer II. iv. 44 It will greatly aid the reader..if I spread on the record the language that passed between my late agent and..his confidant. 1894 T. F. Robley Hist. Bourbon County, Kansas 184 Councilmen Dimon, White and Drake caused the following order to be spread upon the minutes. 1910 Atlantic Monthly Feb. 231 Achievements in that field are naturally not spread on the record as are exploits in railway financiering. 1931 Randolph Enterprise (Elkins, W. Va.) 26 Mar. 1/5 Resolved that a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family, a copy spread on the minutes of the lodge, [etc.]. |
5. a. In pass. of persons, animals, etc.: To be scattered, dispersed, or distributed over or throughout some area.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 650 And or he was on werlde led, His kinde was wel wide spred. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 3264 We ssolleþ hom abbe al uor noȝt..Vor hii beþ naked & onywar & ysprad wyde. a 1300 Cursor M. 6046 O þam it was sua mani bredd, Ouer all þe land þan ware þai spredd. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 169 Þerfore it is þat þey beeþ i-spred so wyde. c 1536 in Thynne Animadv. (1875) 80 Thes holy men beyn thus about sperd [read spred], thorow all this lond, in euery sled. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 3 Dec. 1657, This sect was now wonderfully spread. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) IV. 302 The other [dromedary] is found spread over all the Desarts of Arabia. 1826 G. Samouelle Direct. Collect. Insects & Crust. 44 He met with a certain species of Papilio in abundance and spread all over the island. 1841 Penny Cycl. XX. 148/2 The Rook is spread over the greater part of Europe. |
† b. To cause to increase or multiply; to beget.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 10684 It was boden in þair ledd Wit mariage þe folk to sprede. 1624 Heywood Gunaik. i. 49 Young Epaphus..To Phaeton objects that he was bred Of mortal straine, and not divinelie spred. |
6. To disseminate or diffuse; to cause to become prevalent or (more) widely existent, present, known, felt, etc.
Various contexts are illustrated by the separate groups of quotations.
| (a) a 1300 Cursor M. 6213 Son was in land þe tiþand spredd Þe folk was turned again and fledd. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 3111 Hym schamed sore of his chaunce Þat hit was so wyde yspred Þat his lemman was a-wey led. c 1386 Chaucer Prioress' T. Prol. 2 O lord our lord, thy name how merueillous Is in this large worlde ysprad. 1503 Hawes Examp. Virt. vii. 94 Of whose noble dedes the brute and sowne Was spred by euery straunge habytacyon. 1595 in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ. V. 350 Yt was spread in the cuntry that he had convinced the minister in diverse pointes of religion. 1662 Extr. St. Papers Friends Ser. ii. 151 Such base lyes..are now dayly & hourely spread abroad against our present Gracious King. 1678 Sir G. Mackenzie Crim. Laws Scot. i. xxix. §6 (1699) 151 She having spread these Mis-reports before she was cited. 1725 Berkeley Proposal Conv. Savage Amer. Wks. 1871 III. 217 Missionaries for spreading the gospel among their countrymen. 1746 P. Francis tr. Horace, Art Poet. 469 [This] shall..across the seas To distant nations spread the writer's fame. 1823 Scott Quentin D. xii, For this Louis promised to provide, by spreading a report that the Ladies of Croye had escaped. 1849 Ticknor Span. Lit. I. 33 His reputation was early spread throughout Europe, on account of his general science. |
| (b) a 1300 Cursor M. 12716 Quen drightin gan to sprad his grace Til his aun choslings treu. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 246 Þis wrong is brood sprad in Cristendom. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 208 The taste is a commyn witte, Spraden throgh the body. 1450–80 tr. Secreta Secret. 29 Nature spredith it through alle parties of the body, and therfore the stomak hath litille part of þe hete. 1538 Starkey England i. i. 7 So ys the mynd then most perfyt when hyt communyth & spredyth hys vertues abrode. c 1614 Sir W. Mure Dido & æneas ii. 106 O how quick doth love..spreed in every parte A furiows flame! 1668 Wilkins Real Char. i. i. 3 The present Coptic or ægyptian..was probably spred amongst that people in the days of Alexander the Great. 1720 Pope Iliad xvii. 770 Cheering his men, and spreading deaths around. 1768 Goldsm. Good-n. Man i, She could spread an horse-laugh through the pews of a tabernacle. 1831 Scott Ct. Rob. xxvi, Do thy gifts, accomplishments, and talents, spread hardness as well as polish over thy heart? 1854 Poultry Chron. II. 266 It seems likely that, by thus spreading the local interest, shows..might become self-supporting. 1874 Green Short Hist. iii. §4. 128 Wandering teachers..crossed sea and land to spread the new power of knowledge. |
| (c) 1743 Francis tr. Horace, Odes iv. iv. 27 The Rhætian bands..Were wont to spread their baneful terrors far. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxxiv, It spread a general alarm among Montoni's people. 1831 Scott Quentin D. Introd., Numerous private emissaries of the restless Louis..were every where spreading the discontent which it was his policy to maintain. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vi. II. 157 His arrival spread dismay through the whole English population. |
7. refl. a. To extend, expand, etc., in various senses.
| 1340 Ayenb. 17 Þis zenne him to-delþ and spret ine zuo uele deles þet onneaþ e me may hise telle. 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 91 Also þare ys a tree þat hauys leuys of vygour, and his braunches spredyn hem on þe erthe. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 25 b, Remember his extension..on the crosse, and consyder how mekely he spred hym selfe on the same. 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. i. 20 Before the gate a spatious plaine, Mantled with greene, it selfe did spredden wyde. 1611 Tourneur Ath. Trag. i. i, Tis true. Had not my Body spredde it selfe Into posteritie; perhaps I should Desire no more increase of substance. 1649 G. Daniel Trinarch., Rich. II, cclxxx, The King now spreads himselfe; and, as a source, Issues in larger Streames, to take in more, Hee fills the Cisterns nere him. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 141 The Clouds had spread themselves over the Tops of the Hills. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 120 ¶11 This natural Love is not observed in animals to ascend from the Young to the Parent;..it spreads it self downwards. 1748 Anson's Voy. iii. ii. 309 The mixture of these woods and lawns..as they spread themselves differently through the vallies. 1821 Shelley Adonais xlii, He is a presence.., Spreading itself where'er that Power may move [etc.]. 1855 Kingsley Westw. Ho! xxv, They began to spread themselves along the stream. 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. 202 A city which in the tenth century..had spread itself far beyond the Roman Walls. |
b. U.S. To exert oneself; also, to make a display, to show off.
| 1857 S. H. Hammond Wild North. Scenes 266 (Bartlett), He had promised, to use his own expression, to spread himself in the preparation of this meal. 1891 E. Kinglake Australian at Home 58 The gentleman who had just ‘spread himself’ was very angry at having the effect of his speech thus spoiled. 1892 E. Reeves Homeward Bound 204, I must (to use your slang) be allowed ‘to spread myself’ a little, and give you a minute account of everything I see. |
| absol. 1860 J. G. Holland Miss Gilbert's Career x. 173 He sort o' stands round, and spreads, and lets off all the big talk he hears. 1884 ‘Mark Twain’ Huck. Finn xxi. 206 He howled, and spread around, and swelled up his chest. 1897 Howells Landlord at Lion's Head 376 One of the jays, who was spreading on rather a large scale, wanted Jeff to spread with him. |
8. a. To cover, overlay, deck, or strew, with something. Also without const.
| a 1300 Leg. S. Gregory (1876) 771 On bed he fel hir biside, Ysprad it was wiþ grene palle. a 1300 Cursor M. 15027 Þai spred þe strete wit cloth and flur. a 1400–50 Alexander (D.) 1514 He..arayes all þe cyte, Spredes ouer with bawdkens all þe brode stretes. 1596 Spenser F.Q. vi. ii. 5 On his head [was] an hood with aglets sprad. 1611 Bible Isaiah xl. 19 The goldsmith spreadeth it ouer with golde. 1693 Dryden Juvenal xvi. 69 note, The Courts of Judicature were hung, and spread, as with us. 1697 ― æneid xii. 174 The morn..Had scarcely spread the skies with rosy light. 1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. Mrs. Thistlethwayte 1 Apr., The rooms are all spread with Persian carpets. 1812 Byron Ch. Har. ii. vii, Silence spreads the couch of ever welcome rest. 1828 Lytton Pelham I. xxiii, Another table, still spread with the appliances of breakfast. |
| transf. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 442 Þe forest was fair and wide, Wiþ wilde bestes y-sprad. |
b. To lay (a table) for a meal or other purpose.
| c 1460 Sir R. Ros La Belle Dame 101 The boordes wer spred in ryght lytell space. 1565 J. Phillip Patient Grissell (Malone Soc.) 7 She spread the table and made me good cheare. 1671 Milton P.R. ii. 340 A Table richly spred, in regal mode, With dishes pil'd. 1697 Dryden æneid iii. 291 We spread the tables on the greensward ground. 1761 Gray Desc. Odin 41 Tell me..For whom yon glitt'ring board is spread. 1859 Habits of Gd. Society 88 He must be there to talk to the chaperons,..to spread the card-table and form the rubber. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate iv, Valerie spread her grand-uncle's little table and placed his food before him. |
| absol. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. ii. ii. 189 Dromio, goe bid the seruants spred for dinner. |
c. To cover with a thin layer of some soft substance, esp. butter; to prepare in this way.
| 1579 Fulke Refut. Rastel 783 What so euer remained..shoulde be giuen to..children..(not spred..with butter) but sprinkled with wine. 1621 T. Williamson tr. Goulart's Wise Vieillard 6 Contenting himselfe to eate..a piece of bread spread with honey. 1707 in Hearne Coll. (O.H.S.) II. 43 He eats..Bread and Butter, which he spreads with his Thumb. 1827 Scott Surg. Dau. i, Every old woman..can prescribe a dose of salts, or spread a plaster. 1888 Times 3 Jan. 9/5 They spread their bread with ox-fat. |
9. † a. To over-run or overspread (an area). Obs.
| c 1400 Brut lxxxiii, Þai..wenten oute of here shippis, and spraden al þe contreye. 1633 T. Stafford Pac. Hib. i. ii. 22 MacGuire, who with some Horse (likewise dispersed) had spread a good circuit of ground, in hope..to get some bootie. 1654 E. Johnson Wonder-working Provid. 1 The multitude of irreligious..affected persons spred the whole land like Grasshoppers. 1720 De Foe Capt. Singleton vi. (1840) 109 Our negroes spread the banks of the lake..for game. 1722 ― Plague (1884) 78 The Gangren..had spread her whole Body. |
b. poet. To cover; to extend over.
| 1700 Dryden Pal. & Arc. iii. 104 Rich tapestry spread the streets. 1725 Pope Odyss. i. 173 A purple carpet spread the pavement wide. 1800 Moore Anacreon xvii. 24 Now from the sunny apple seek The velvet down that spreads his cheek! 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. I. 130 Refreshing greenness spread the plain. |
c. To extend or reach along.
| 1794 Rigging & Seamanship 127 The head spreads the topgallant yard. |
10. With advs. (abroad, forth, out, up), in preceding senses.
| a. 1382 Wyclif Gen. xxxii. 12 Thow hast spokun..that thow shuldist sprede abrood my seed as the grauel of the see. c 1449 Pecock Repr. 213 A clooth steyned or ymagis sprad abrood in dyuerse placis of the chirche. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lii. 176, I spred abrode a towel on the grene grasse. 1594 Kyd Cornelia iv. i. 200 His glory, spred abroade by Fame. 1653 Ramesey Astrol. Restored 199 The credit or applause desired will be the more blazed and spread abroad. 1700 Dryden Ovid's Met., Baucis & Philemon 49 Baucis..rakes the Load Of Ashes from the Hearth, and spreads abroad The living Coals. 1825 Scott Betrothed viii, The morning light was scarce fully spread abroad. 1842 Loudon Suburb. Hort. 392 Fermentation is always most rapid in summer; and if the materials are spread abroad during frost, it is totally impeded. |
| b. 1388 Wyclif Deut. xxxii. 11 He spredde forth his wyngis. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 71 Þe kendly hete ys y-drawe þerto and spred forth by al þe body to þe stomak. 1535 Coverdale 1 Kings vi. 27 The Cherubins spred forth their wynges. 1611 Bible Num. xxiv. 6 As the valleyes are they spread forth, as gardens by the riuer side. c 1614 Sir W. Mure Dido & æneas i. 1003 Now silent night spred foorth her sable wings. 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam x. xxxviii, Fix on high A net of iron, and spread forth below A couch of snakes and scorpions. |
| c. 1382 Wyclif Deut. xxxii. 11 He sprade out his weengis. 1483 Cath. Angl. 356/2 To Sprede oute, dilatare, distendere. 1571 Golding Calvin on Ps. lxxi. 19 Our mindes must be spredded out..to conceive y⊇ largenes of it. 1611 Bible Exod. xxxvii. 9 And the Cherubims spread out their wings..ouer the Mercie seat. 1719 De Foe Crusoe ii. (Globe) 523 A third [ship] without any Colours spread out. 1865 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. xviii. v. (1872) VII. 176, I spread-out to you, dear Sister, the detail of my sorrows. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate vi, The sky spread out a boundless space of deepest blue. |
| d. 1657 Austen Fruit Trees i. 58 The [fig] trees must be set against a South wall, and be spread up with nailes and Leathers. |
II. intr.
11. a. To receive extension or expansion; to cover or occupy a wider space by this means.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 18113 A deu, al for to mak þam hale, On þam sal spred. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 38 A rede cloude in þe skie about Ingland gan sprede. 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §10 The hyer and farther that ye caste your corne, the better shall it sprede. 1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus Q j, A litle sparke spreading burnes a whole Cittie. 1663 Gerbier Counsel 10 Nature of Aire being to ascend, and when it meets with a sudden opposition it spreads. 1686 W. Harris tr. Lemery's Course Chem. (ed. 2) 49 Gold will spread under the hammer more than any other Metal. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 332 The water began to spread over the flat ground. 1789 Mrs. Piozzi Journ. France I. 400 London spreads chiefly the Marybone way perhaps. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. 124 The clouds spread more and more. 1885 Manch. Exam. 6 July 5/1 A fire broke out and spread with great rapidity. |
| transf. c 1330 Amis & Amil. 1317 So hard thai hewe on helme and side,..That thai sprad al of blod. |
b. With advs., as about, abroad, forth, out. Also to spread off, to withdraw from.
| c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 10940 Odemon saw Ector was dede, He saw his blod aboute sprede. 1530 Palsgr. 730, I spredde a brode, as a ryver that breaketh out of his channell or any suche lyke thyng. 1535 Coverdale Joel ii. 2 A stormy daye, like as the mornynge spredeth out vpon the hilles. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 159 ¶8, I saw the Valley opening at the farther End, and spreading forth into an immense Ocean. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. i. vii. vi, Our straight frondent Avenue..spreads out into Place Royal and Palace Forecourt. 1849 Cupples Green Hand xv. (1856) 151 The fog spread off the water near us. |
c. Of conditions, qualities, etc.
| 1565 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Mano, Runnyng sores: or sores that spread farther and farther. 1611 Donne Anat. World 357 Our blushing red, which us'd in cheekes to spred, Is inward sunke. 1720 De Foe Capt. Singleton xi. (1840) 197 The mortification seemed to spread. 1799 Underwood Dis. Childhood (ed. 4) II. 25 Should the shingles spread and become sore, it should be treated as directed below. 1815 Stephens in Shaw's Gen. Zool. IX. i. 60 The green becomes gradually more brilliant..and spreads over the coverts of the wings and tail. 1864–8 Browning J. Lee's Wife iii. iv, But why must cold spread? 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VI. 106 The readiness with which it [sc. sarcoma] spreads in upon..the pulmonary tissue. |
d. To become larger; to increase in size.
| 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 10 The more they decline from the æquator, the more they spread in stature and tallnesse. 1756 J. Warton Ess. Pope I. vii. 407 The sybil..is likewise represented as spreading.., and growing larger and larger. 1799 Underwood Dis. Childhood (ed. 4) I. 208 The gums swell, spread, and become hot. |
e. To go apart; to separate.
| 1839 Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. II. 146/1 The violent vicissitudes of the seasons soon deranged the foundation.., and caused the [railway] track to spread. 1847 Smeaton Builder's Man. 146 The walls of a public building in Paris had spread, or..were thrown out of their perpendicular. 1890 Baker Wild Beasts II. 3 The toes spread widely upon soft ground. |
12. a. Of immaterial things: To become diffused or disseminated.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 98 Vor ase holi writ seið, ‘hore speche spret ase cauncre’. a 1240 Ureisun in O.E. Hom. I. 199 Þuruh þine muchele milce þet spert [read spret] so swuðe wide. 1340 Ayenb. 29 Ouerweninge, þet makeþ to moche sprede þe merci of our lhorde. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 1607 Þurȝ þe sped of þe spyryt þat sprad hym with-inne. c 1410 Hoccleve Mother of God 81 Thy gracious bountee spredith al aboute. 1508 Kennedie Flyting w. Dunbar 348 It was the gud langage of this land, And Scota it causit to multiply and sprede. 1592 Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 903 A second fear through all her sinews spread. a 1656 Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 189 Arianisme began in a family, spread over the World. 1697 Collier Ess. Mor. Subj. i. (1703) 139 The infection spreads like lightning; and 'tis a credit to live counter to reason. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 265 ¶6, I am informed that this Fashion spreads daily. 1782 Priestley Corrupt. Chr. I. i. 75 His opinions are acknowledged to have spread much. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 293 This system of nomenclature..spread with great rapidity to other countries. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iv. I. 457 Discontent and suspicion would spread fast through society. 1874 Green Short Hist. viii. §I (1882) 449 A new moral and religious impulse spread through every class. |
b. Of tidings, rumour, fame, etc.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 15062 On þin worthi werkes don Farr spredes þi fame. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 365 Þis speche sprang in þat space & spradde alle aboute. c 1400 26 Pol. Poems 129 That I dyd in pryuyte, There opynly hit owte shall sprede. 1475 Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 45 The renome of his noble astate and name sprad thoroughe alle cristyn roiaumes. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ccccxcvii, It was sayd howe surly they were at Burdeaux,..whiche wordes sprade abrode in the hoost. 1637 Milton Lycidas 81 Fame..lives and spreds aloft by those pure eyes. 1662 J. Davies tr. Mandelslo's Trav. 96 Which increas'd as the noyse of the attempt spread more and more into the City. 1764 Museum Rust. IV. 10 The account of this, spreading into Holland, determined the Dutch to send colonies there. c 1807 Wordsw. Somnambulist 73 His fame may spread, but in the past Her spirit finds its centre. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xlii, The city had hardly been more agitated when the news of Caligula's murder had spread among the citizens. |
13. Of flowers, leaves, etc.: To unfold, expand.
| a 1250 Owl & Night. 437 Þe blostme gynneþ springe & sprede. 1375 Barbour Bruce xvi. 67 Lewis on the branchis spredis, And blomys bricht besyd thame bredis. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 48 To sen these flouris agen the sunne to sprede. 1423 Jas. I Kingis Q. 21 The tender flouris opnyt thame and sprad. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 530 Flouris spreidand..Of diuers hew, with mony cullour cleir. 1662 J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. 323 As soon as it is put into warm water, it spreads and reassumes its former green Colour. 1686 W. Harris tr. Lemery's Course Chem. (ed. 3) 523 It is best gathering Roses newly spread a little after Sun-rising. 1765 Museum Rust. IV. 94 When the barley begins to spread, (or brewer). |
14. To extend by growth; spec. of trees, to grow outwards.
| c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 348 Him þouȝte þat þare stod a treo..Þat a-non to þe steorrene it tilde and swyþe wide it spradde [v.r. spredde]. a 1300 Cursor M. 27877 O glotori and o drunkenhede Fele wick branches se we sprede. 1340 Ayenb. 131 Vor uirtue wext an heȝ ase palme..and þanne spret and keste his boȝes an ech half. 1559 Mirr. Mag., Mowbray's Banishm. xiv, The deper doth the sounde roote sprede abrode. 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 98 Good hop hath a pleasure to climbe and to spred. 1615 W. Lawson Country Housew. Gard. (1626) 24 The roots..may not goe downeward, nor vpward out of the earth... Therefore they must needs spread far vnder the earth. 1676 Marvell Mr. Smirke 27 When it germinates, spreds, blossomes, and bears fruit. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 422 A Steer..whose Head Now first with burnish'd Horns begins to spread. 1743 Francis tr. Horace, Odes iv. xi. 6 With living wreaths to crown our heads The parsley's vivid verdure spreads. 1796 Withering Brit. Plants (ed. 3) I. 83 Not rising high, but spreading wide upon the ground. 1802 Barrington's Hist. N.S. Wales viii. 283 The she oaks were more inclined to spread than grow tall. 1826 Art Brewing (ed. 2) 174 When the trees are full grown, they..injure the crop below; the roots, also, spread to a great distance. 1847 Tennyson Princ. iv. 188 The branches thereupon Spread out at top. |
15. a. To extend over a larger area by increase or by separation; to disperse.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2567 Ay wex ðat kinde, mor & mor, And ðhogen, & spredden in londe ðor. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 48 His Men pleiden and arnden bi þe weie, and spradden a-boute ful wide. a 1300 Cursor M. 3792 Wit þe i sal be in al þi nede And gar þin oxspring wide spred. c 1450 Merlin xvii. 272 As soone as the saisnes were logged thai spredde abrode in the contrey to forry. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. cccxxi. 498 So the men of armes sprad abrode. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. 45 Quhair ance it fixis the rute it spredis. 1605 Chapman All Fools v. ii. 372 Very well done; now take your severall wives, And spred like wilde-geese. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 354 Her barbarous Sons Came like a Deluge on the South, and spread Beneath Gibraltar to the Lybian sands. 1748 Anson's Voy. ii. v. 173 By spreading in their cruise, there might be less danger of any of the enemy's ships slipping by unobserved. 1853 J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. (1873) l. i. ii. 59 The Romans spread gradually from one central city. 1866 Darwin Orig. Spec. (ed. 4) iv. 152 That those species which spread widely tend generally to spread very widely. |
b. To arise or spring. rare—1.
| 1642 H. More Song of Soul ii. ii. i. 8 How the mixture of their rayes may breed Th' opinion of uncertain quality, When they from certain roots of life do spreed. |
16. To stretch out, extend.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 17196 Vnnethes dar i sceu mi nedes Bot wit þe hend to me þou spredis. a 1310 in Wright Lyric P. xxv. 70 Iesu, of love soth tocknynge, Thin armes spredeth to mankynde. a 1327 A. Davy Five Dreams 12/34 Out of boþe his eren [came] Foure bendes;..hij spredden fer & wyde in þe cuntre. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. Prol. 143 (Cambr.), Lo ȝond he comyth, I se hise wyngis sprede. |
| 1748 Gray Alliance 100 In the sultry climes, that spread Where Nile redundant o'er his Summer-bed From his broad bosom life and verdure flings. 1798 Landor Gebir Wks. 1846 II. 490 There spreads a marble squared And smoothened. 1816 Shelley Mont Blanc 65 Broad vales..that spread And wind among the accumulated steeps. 1854 Poultry Chron. II. 92 Thin, hackle-like feathers, spreading and drooping all round. 1898 R. Bridges Hymn Nature Poems (1912) 404 Below their breezy crowns..Spreadeth the infinite smile of the sunlit sea. |
17. Bridge. (See quot. 1964.) Cf. spread n. 11.
| 1929 M. C. Work Compl. Contract Bridge 245 Spread, to ‘claim the rest’. 1964 Frey & Truscott Official Encycl. Bridge 520/1 Spread,..verb: to spread the hand, either as a claim or as a concession of the remaining tricks. |
▪ III. spread, ppl. a.
(sprɛd)
Also 6–7 spred.
[f. prec.]
1. a. Extended, expanded; displayed; diffused.
| c 1511 1st Eng. Bk. Amer. (Arb.) Introd. p. xxxi/2 They seke the holy graue to Iherusalem with open or spred baners. 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. 111 Antoninus..set his course against our State and Common-wealth..even with spred and full sail. 1611 Cotgr. s.v. Penne, The spread wings of a bird. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 886 A Bannerd Host Under spread Ensigns marching. 1753 Richardson Grandison (1781) III. 7 No, Miss Grandison, said I, laying my spread hand upon the letter. 1771 Encycl. Brit. I. 204/2 The shape of a spread fan. 1854 Poultry Chron. II. 56 The cock, while playing, sweeps the ground with his spread tail. 1877 Raymond Statist. Mines & Mining 315 A diverging vein-system..something like the spread fingers of a hand held downward. |
b. In predicative use, or with qualifying words.
| 1626 Bacon Sylva §421 How to make the trees themselves, more tall; more spread; than they use to be. 1691 Ray Creation (1714) 214 Lofty and towring Trees for Timber, lowly and more spread ones for shade and fruit. 1693 C. Mather Wonders Invis. World (1862) 16 In so spread a Business as this. 1847 Helps Friends in C. i. iv. 64, I think one of the causes sometimes given, that reading is more spread, is a true..one. 1855 Orr's Circ. Sci., Inorg. Nat. 162 Others..occupy evenly spread and little disturbed districts. |
c. In comb. with -out.
| 1867 Morris Jason xvii. 520 Watching the spread-out linen slowly dry. 1877 Huxley & Martin Elem. Biol. 209 A V-shaped notch about the size of a spread-out frog's web. |
d. Phonetics. Pronounced with the lips drawn out rather than rounded; unrounded.
| 1902 [see fan consonant s.v. fan n.1 11]. 1965 Language XLI. 26 The spread phonemes /ī/ and /ē{supi}/ are realized in the back allophones. |
2. Laid out or prepared for a meal.
| 1891 T. Hardy Tess xxxvi, The spread supper-table, whereon stood the two full glasses of untasted wine. |
3. a. Special collocations: spread adder, a blowing adder; spread brilliant, a brilliant cut in a thin flat form; spread charge, a gun-charge which scatters on being fired; spread head U.S. Journalism, a display heading; hence spread-headed a.
| 1750 D. Jeffries Treat. Diamonds (1751) 26 Of the method of manufacturing, and valuing, spread Brilliants. 1892 in Greener Breech-Loader 279, I have used the spread charge with good results in covert shooting. 1902 Blackw. Mag. Apr. 494/2 The spread-adder is one of the nastiest-looking customers. 1907 Everybody's Mag. XVI. 321 There is no such thing as fashion in dogs, despite the frequent ‘spread heads’. 1923 O. G. Villard Some Newspapers & Newspapermen 152 It has not been able to rise without the vulgar comic section or the Sunday pictorial, and the usual spread-headed Sunday features. |
b. spread (window) glass, sheet or cylinder glass.
| 1805 Act. 45 Geo. III, c. 30 Sched., The making of spread window glass commonly called or known by the name of broad glass. 1839 Ure Dict. Arts 576 Next to it in cheapness of material may be ranked broad or spread window glass. Ibid. 578 A spread-glass work, where they make British sheet glass, upon the best principles. |
4. In parasynthetic combinations, as spread-kneed, spread-legged, spread-lipped, spread-winged adjs.
| 1932 W. Faulkner Light in August vii. 140 McEachern lowered himself stiffly to the top of a feed box, spread⁓kneed, one hand on his knee and the silver watch in the other palm. |
| 1969 L. Michaels Going Places 21, I stood spread-legged, bolt naked. |
| 1973 G. W. Turner Stylistics ii. 63 If Australians tend to use spread-lipped vowels.., they perhaps seem matey fellows. |
| 1936 R. Campbell Mithraic Emblems 89 A spread-winged phœnix from its ash The Cross remained against the sky. 1972 R. Adams Watership Down xlv. 375 Four partridges..sailed down, spread-winged, into the field. |
Hence ˌspreadˈoutness rare, the quality or condition of being spread out.
| 1879 W. James in Mind IV. 339 Since the essences of things are as a matter of fact spread out and disseminated through the whole extent of time and space, it is in their spread-outness and alternation that he [sc. the entire man] will enjoy them. 1915 G. F. Stout Man. Psychol. (ed. 3) ii. i. 214 There is another inseparable character belonging to many kinds of sensation, though, probably, not to all, which may be called Extensity or extensiveness or diffusion or ‘spreadoutness’. |