Hypertext Webster Gateway: "spreading"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Spread \Spread\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spread}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Spreading}.] [OE. spreden, AS. spr[ae]dan; akin to D.
spreiden, spreijen, LG. spreden, spreen, spreien, G.
spreiten, Dan. sprede, Sw. sprida. Cf. {Spray} water flying
in drops.]
1. To extend in length and breadth, or in breadth only; to
stretch or expand to a broad or broader surface or extent;
to open; to unfurl; as, to spread a carpet; to spread a
tent or a sail.

He bought a parcel of a field where he had spread
his tent. --Gen. xxxiii.
19.

Here the Rhone Hath spread himself a couch. --Byron.

2. To extend so as to cover something; to extend to a great
or grater extent in every direction; to cause to fill or
cover a wide or wider space.

Rose, as in a dance, the stately trees, and spread
Their branches hung with copious fruit. --Milton.

3. To divulge; to publish, as news or fame; to cause to be
more extensively known; to disseminate; to make known
fully; as, to spread a report; -- often acompanied by
abroad.

They, when they were departed, spread abroad his
fame in all that country. --Matt. ix.
31.

4. To propagate; to cause to affect great numbers; as, to
spread a disease.

5. To diffuse, as emanations or effluvia; to emit; as,
odoriferous plants spread their fragrance.

6. To strew; to scatter over a surface; as, to spread manure;
to spread lime on the ground.

7. To prepare; to set and furnish with provisions; as, to
spread a table.

Boiled the flesh, and spread the board. --Tennyson.

{To spread cloth}, to unfurl sail. [Obs.] --Evelyn.

Syn: To diffuse; propogate; disperse; publish; distribute;
scatter; circulate; disseminate; dispense.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

spreading
adj 1: spreading over a wide area; "under the spreading chestnut
tree"; "the spreading circle of lamplight";
"wide-spreading branches" [syn: {wide-spreading}]
2: resembling a bush in being thickly branched and spreading
[syn: {bushy}, {spreading(a)}]
3: spreading by diffusion [syn: {diffusing(a)}, {diffusive}, {dispersive},
{disseminative}, {disseminating}, {scattering}]
n 1: process or result of distributing or extending over a wide
expanse of space [syn: {spread}]
2: the opening of a subject to public discussion and debate
[syn: {dissemination}, {airing}, {circulation}, {public
exposure}]
3: act of extending over a wider scope or expanse of space or
time [syn: {spread}]


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