verb
    
    spreads; spread; spreading
    
    [+ obj] to open, arrange, or place (something) over a large area
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    to place (things) over a large area
    
    
    
    
    
    [no obj] :to become larger or to affect a larger area :to move into more places
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [+ obj] :to cause (something) to be present in more places throughout a large area
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [no obj] :to pass from person to person
    
    
    
    [no obj] :to become known by many people
    
    
    
    
    
    [+ obj] :to cause (something) to become known by many people
    
    
    
    
    
    to move (parts of your body) outward or away from each other [+ obj]
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    + out
    
    
    
    [no obj] of a smile or other facial expression :to appear and slowly grow more apparent
    
    
    
    
    
    [+ obj] :to put a layer of (something) on top of something else
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [+ obj] :to divide up (something) over a period of time or among members of a group
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    spread out
    
    [phrasal verb]
    
    to move apart from the other members of a group especially to search an area
    
    
    
    spread your net wide
    
    
    
    spread your wings
    
    
    
    noun
    
    plural spreads
    
    [noncount] :growth or increase that causes something to cover a larger area, affect a larger number of people, etc. - often + of
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    a soft food that is spread on bread, crackers, etc. [count]
    
    
    
    
    
    [count] :the total distance between the two outer edges of something - usually singular; often + of
    
    
    
    
    
    [count] informal :a large meal - usually singular
    
    
    
    [count] :something (such as an advertisement or a series of photos) that covers two or more pages in a newspaper or magazine
    
    
    
    [count] US :bedspread
    
    [count] US :a large farm or ranch - usually singular
    
    
    
    
    
    [count] :a variety or range of things or people - usually singular; often + of