spread out

verb

1. move outward (Freq. 6)

-

The soldiers fanned out

• Syn: ↑diffuse, ↑spread, ↑fan out

• Derivationally related forms: ↑spread (for: ↑spread), ↑diffusion (for: ↑diffuse)

• Hypernyms: ↑spread, ↑distribute

• Hyponyms: ↑percolate, ↑creep, ↑run, ↑bleed, ↑mantle

• Verb Frames:

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Something ——s

-

Somebody ——s something

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Something ——s something

2. set out or stretch in a line, succession, or series (Freq. 2)

-

the houses were strung out in a long row

• Syn: ↑string out

• Hypernyms: ↑arrange, ↑set up

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s something

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Somebody ——s something PP

3. extend in one or more directions

-

The dough expands

• Syn: ↑expand

• Ant: ↑contract (for: ↑expand)

• Derivationally related forms: ↑expansible (for: ↑expand), ↑expandible (for: ↑expand), ↑expansive (for: ↑expand)

• Hypernyms: ↑grow

• Hyponyms: ↑dispread, ↑bush out

• Verb Frames:

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Something ——s

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Something is ——ing PP

4. move away from each other

-

The crowds dispersed

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The children scattered in all directions when the teacher approached

• Syn: ↑disperse, ↑dissipate, ↑scatter

• Derivationally related forms: ↑scatter (for: ↑scatter), ↑scattering (for: ↑scatter), ↑dissipation (for: ↑dissipate), ↑dispersion (for: ↑disperse)

• Hypernyms: ↑separate, ↑part, ↑split

• Hyponyms: ↑aerosolize, ↑aerosolise, ↑break, ↑volley

• Verb Frames:

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Something ——s

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Somebody ——s

5. turn outward

-

These birds can splay out their toes

-

ballet dancers can rotate their legs out by 90 degrees

• Syn: ↑turn out, ↑splay, ↑rotate

• Derivationally related forms: ↑turnout (for: ↑turn out)

• Hypernyms: ↑turn

• Verb Frames:

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Something ——s

-

Somebody ——s something

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Something ——s something

6. strew or distribute over an area

-

He spread fertilizer over the lawn

-

scatter cards across the table

• Syn: ↑spread, ↑scatter

• Derivationally related forms: ↑scatter (for: ↑scatter), ↑scattering (for: ↑scatter), ↑spread (for: ↑spread), ↑spreader (for: ↑spread)

• Hypernyms: ↑circulate, ↑pass around, ↑pass on, ↑distribute

• Hyponyms: ↑manure, ↑muck, ↑birdlime, ↑lime, ↑circumfuse, ↑distribute

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s something

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Somebody ——s something PP

7. spread out or open from a closed or folded state

-

open the map

-

spread your arms

• Syn: ↑unfold, ↑spread, ↑open

• Ant: ↑fold (for: ↑unfold)

• Derivationally related forms: ↑opening (for: ↑open)

• Hypernyms: ↑undo

• Hyponyms: ↑divaricate, ↑exfoliate, ↑grass, ↑butterfly, ↑uncross, ↑splay

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s something PP

* * *

spread out [phrasal verb]

: to move apart from the other members of a group especially to search an area

The police spread out [=fanned out] to search the area faster.

— see also ↑spread 1a, 4, 7 (above), 1

• • •

Main Entry: ↑spread

* * *

ˌspread ˈout | ˌspread yourself ˈout derived

1. to stretch your body or arrange your things over a large area

•

There's more room to spread out in first class.

•

Do you have to spread yourself out all over the sofa?

2. to separate from other people in a group, to cover a larger area

•

The searchers spread out to cover the area faster.

Main entry: ↑spread_derived