spread out — to extend over a large area, with things or people not close together
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to extend over a large area, with things or people not close together
Pronunciation (IPA): /sprɛd aʊt/
Example Sentences
- At the buffet, people spread out like ants who just found free candy.
- The professor spread out all his notes, looking like a hoarder's dream come true.
- During the exam, students were spread out to prevent cheating.
spread out
VERB[/sprɛd aʊt/]
to extend over a large area, with things or people not close together
The team spread out across the field to search for the lost hiker.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'spread' derives from Old English 'sprædan', meaning 'to extend' or 'to expand'. When combined with 'out', the phrase emphasizes the action of unfurling or extending outward. The term originally described the action of applying butter or jam broadly across bread, then evolved to denote the dispersal of people or objects across a wider space.
Breakdown
spread (to extend, unfold) + out (outward, away) = to unfold or extend completely outward in all directions
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“At the buffet, people spread out like ants who just found free candy.”
“The professor spread out all his notes, looking like a hoarder's dream come true.”
“During the exam, students were spread out to prevent cheating.”
“The city has spread out rapidly over the past decade due to population growth.”
“My cat spread out on the warm floor like a furry pancake.”
📚Related Words
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