<p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used with object) to draw, stretch, or open out, especially over a flat surface, as something rolled or folded (often followed by out).</li><li>to stretch out or unfurl in the air, as folded wings, a flag, etc. (often followed by out).</li><li>to distribute over a greater or a relatively great area of space or time (often followed by out): to spread out the papers on the table.</li><li>to display or exhibit the full extent of; set out in full: He spread the pots on the ground and started hawking his wares.</li><li>to dispose or distribute in a sheet or layer: to spread hay to dry.</li><li>to apply in a thin layer or coating: to spread butter on a slice of bread.</li><li>to overlay or cover with something: She spread the blanket over her knees.</li><li>to set or prepare (a table), as for a meal.</li><li>to extend or distribute over a region, place, period of time, among a group, etc.</li><li>to send out, scatter, or shed in various directions, as sound, light, etc.</li><li>to scatter abroad; diffuse or disseminate, as knowledge, news, disease, etc.: to spread the word of the gospel.</li><li>to move or force apart: He spread his arms over his head in surrender.</li><li>to flatten out: to spread the end of a rivet by hammering.</li></ul><p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>an act or instance of spreading: With a spread of her arms the actress acknowledged the applause.</li><li>expansion, extension, or diffusion: the spread of consumerism.</li><li>the extent of distribution: to measure the spread of branches.</li><li>Finance: the difference between the prices bid and asked of stock or a commodity for a given time.</li><li>a type of straddle in which the call price is placed above and the put price is placed below the current market quotation.</li><li>the difference between any two prices or rates for related costs: the widening spread between lending and borrowing costs.</li><li>Stock Exchange: a broker's profit, or the difference between their buying and selling price.</li><li>any difference between return on assets and costs of liabilities.</li><li>capacity for spreading: the spread of an elastic material.</li><li>a distance or range, as between two points or dates: The long-distance movers planned a five-day spread between pickup and delivery.</li><li>a stretch, expanse, or extent of something: a spread of timber.</li><li>a cloth covering for a bed, table, or the like, especially a bedspread.</li><li>Informal: an abundance of food set out on a table; feast.</li><li>any food preparation for smearing on bread, crackers, etc., such as jam or peanut butter.</li></ul><p><strong>Adjective</strong></p><ul><li>Jewelry: (of a gem) cut with the table too large and the crown too shallow for maximum brilliance; swindled.</li><li>Phonetics: (of the opening between the lips) extended laterally.</li></ul>