spread
B1Neutral (used across formal, informal, and technical contexts)
Definition
Meaning
To open, extend, or distribute over a wider area or among more people.
To become widely known, applied, or prevalent; to cover a surface; to arrange items for display; to apply a layer.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is highly polysemous, covering physical extension, dissemination of information, application of a substance, and distribution over time. It functions as a verb, noun, and (less commonly) adjective.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling differences in past tense/past participle (spread/spread in both). Some collocational preferences differ (e.g., 'spread betting' is a UK financial term). The noun for a bed covering is more commonly 'bedspread' in US, while 'spread' alone is understood in both.
Connotations
Largely identical. In food contexts, both use 'spread' for a variety of items laid out. In publishing, 'double-page spread' is common in both.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
spread something (on/over something)spread something (with something)spread (out) (adv.)spread (from X) (to Y)spread something among/between peopleVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “spread yourself too thin”
- “spread like wildfire”
- “spread your wings”
- “spread the net wide”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the difference between two prices, rates, or yields (e.g., 'interest rate spread'). Also used for diversification ('spread investments').
Academic
Used in statistics ('spread of data'), epidemiology ('disease spread'), and social sciences ('spread of ideas').
Everyday
Common for food ('cheese spread'), news, gossip, and applying substances ('spread sunscreen').
Technical
In agriculture ('spread fertiliser'), printing ('spread layout'), and physics ('spread of radiation').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She spread the map out on the bonnet of the car.
- The infection spread rapidly through the village.
- He spread the workload evenly among the team.
American English
- Spread the frosting on the cake while it's still warm.
- The fire spread to the adjacent buildings.
- We need to spread the payments over six months.
adverb
British English
- The trees were planted too spread out to form a canopy.
- (Rare as a standalone adverb; usually part of a phrasal verb 'spread out').
American English
- The players stood spread along the baseline.
- (Rare as a standalone adverb; usually part of a phrasal verb 'spread out').
adjective
British English
- The spread betting industry is regulated here.
- They live in a large, spread-out ranch-style home.
American English
- A spread offense is common in football.
- The magazine featured a two-page spread advertisement.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Can you spread the jam on my bread, please?
- The cat spread out in front of the fire.
- We spread the picnic blanket on the grass.
- News of the royal visit spread quickly through the town.
- He spread his arms wide in welcome.
- A delicious spread of food was laid out on the table.
- The company aims to spread its operations into three new markets.
- Butter spreads more easily when it's at room temperature.
- The report analysed the spread of the virus across different age groups.
- The activist's primary goal was to spread awareness of the ecological crisis.
- Financial instability began to spread contagion throughout the global markets.
- The artist's influence spread far beyond the confines of the avant-garde movement.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine SPREADing butter on RED toast. SP-READ. You READ about how news SP-reads.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/INFORMATION IS A SUBSTANCE THAT CAN BE SPREAD (e.g., 'spread the idea'); SUCCESS IS EXPANSION ('spread its influence').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not always equivalent to 'распространять'. Avoid using 'spread' for 'продлить' (extend time) or 'разложить' (lay out items) without the 'over an area' sense.
- The noun 'spread' (e.g., bedspread, food spread) has no single Russian equivalent and is often over-translated.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect past tense: 'spreaded' (correct: 'spread').
- Confusing 'spread' with 'separate' or 'split'.
- Using 'spread' without a necessary preposition (e.g., 'spread the map' vs. 'spread out the map').
Practice
Quiz
In a financial context, what does 'spread' most commonly refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'spreaded' is always incorrect. The verb 'spread' is irregular: spread (present) - spread (past) - spread (past participle).
'Spread' implies a deliberate or natural extension over an area to cover it (spread butter, spread a cloth). 'Scatter' implies throwing or dropping things loosely over an area, often randomly (scatter seeds, scatter papers).
Yes, commonly. It can mean: 1) the act of spreading, 2) a large farm or ranch, 3) a variety of food laid out, 4) a two-page article in a magazine, 5) a difference between rates or prices.
It's an idiom meaning to try to do too many different things at the same time, so that you cannot give enough time or attention to any of them. E.g., 'The company is spread too thin across too many projects.'