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spreading |
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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