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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | sprædan |
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spread1 S2 W2
past tense and past participle spread
past tense and past participle spread1 if something spreads or is spread, it becomes larger or moves so that it affects more people or a larger area 
the risk of AIDS being spread through contaminated blood
affect more people/places
[intransitive and transitive] spread (from something) to something The cancer had spread to her liver. Revolution quickly spread from France to Italy.
The cancer had spread to her liver.Revolution quickly spread from France to Italy.the risk of AIDS being spread through contaminated blood2
information/ideas
a) [intransitive] to become known about or used by more and more people : News of the explosion spread swiftly.
News of the explosion spread swiftly.b) [transitive] to tell a lot of people about something
3 to open something out or arrange a group of things so that they cover a flat surface a table spread with a white cloth
open/arrange
also spread out [transitive] spread something over/across/on something Papers and photos were spread across the floor. He spread the map out on the desk.
Papers and photos were spread across the floor.He spread the map out on the desk.a table spread with a white cloth4 to cover or exist across a large area
throughout an area
[intransitive] also be spread and spread out spread over the forest that spread over the whole of that region
the forest that spread over the whole of that region5 to put a soft substance over a surface or to be soft enough to be put over a surface If you warm up the butter it'll spread more easily.
soft substance
[intransitive and transitive]If you warm up the butter it'll spread more easily.6 if you spread your arms, fingers or legs, you move them far apart : He shrugged and spread his hands.
arms/fingers etc
[transitive]He shrugged and spread his hands.7 to do something over a period of time, rather than at one time There will be 12 concerts spread throughout the summer.
over time
[transitive] also spread outThere will be 12 concerts spread throughout the summer.8 to share or divide something among several people or things
share
[transitive] spread the load/burden The bills are sent out on different dates to spread the workload on council staff.
The bills are sent out on different dates to spread the workload on council staff.9 if an expression spreads over someone's face, it slowly appears on their face
smile/look
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]10
spread your wings
a) to start to have an independent life and experience new things : A year spent studying abroad should allow him to spread his wings a bit.
A year spent studying abroad should allow him to spread his wings a bit.b) if a bird or insect spreads its wings, it stretches them wide
11
a) if money, effort etc is spread thin, it is being used for many things so there is not enough for each thing : They complained that resources were spread too thinly.
be spread (too) thin/thinly
They complained that resources were spread too thinly.b) to try to do too many things at the same time so that you do not do any of them effectively
spread yourself too thin
➔ spread your net wide
at net1 (8)spread out
phrasal verb1 if a group of people spread out, they move apart from each other so that they cover a wider area : The search party spread out to search the surrounding fields.
The search party spread out to search the surrounding fields.2 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.
spread something ↔ out
Sue spread out her notes on the kitchen table and began to write.3 also be spread out to cover a large area : The city spread out below her looked so calm.
The city spread out below her looked so calm.4 to do something over a period of time, rather than at one time
