2  definitions  found 
 
  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  1.6  [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:  opening  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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