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spread - definition and synonyms


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noun     spread pronunciation in British English
Word Forms
  1. 1
    [singular] the growth or development of something, so that it affects a larger area or a larger number of people
    spread of:

    There were concerns about the spread of fighting to other regions.

    The aim of US foreign policy at that time was to prevent the spread of communism.

    The spread of literacy has greatly improved the region’s economic performance.

    1. a.
      a situation in which disease begins to infect more and more people

      They still do not know how to prevent the spread of the disease.

    2. b.
      a situation in which a fire starts to affect a larger area than before

      Close doors to delay the spread of fire and smoke.

  2. 2
    [countable/uncountable] soft food that you put on bread and similar foods
  3. 4
    [countable] a long article in a newspaper or magazine

    a double-page/two-page spread

  4. 5
    [singular] the width of something

    The mature plant is around six feet tall with a spread of four feet.

  5. 6
    [countable] informal a large meal with a lot of different dishes to choose from

    That was quite a spread they put on last night.

  6. From our crowdsourced Open Dictionary
    slang term for a plasterer, someone who spreads plaster on the interior walls of a buildingSubmitted on 02/08/2011
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