spread

To put something over a surface so it covers a larger area.

• Spread some jam on your bread.
• She spread cream over the cake.
• Have you spread the paint evenly?

How to use it: spread something on/over something (Spread the butter on the toast.); spread something with something (She spread the bread with cream cheese.)

Similar words: apply, smear

Common phrases: spread butter, spread something on something, spread something over something

To reach or cover a larger area.

• The fire spread quickly.
• Water spread across the kitchen floor.
• Smoke had spread through the whole building.

How to use it: spread across/over something (Oil spread across the water.); spread to something (The fire spread to nearby houses.)

Similar words: expand, extend

Opposites: shrink

Common phrases: spread across something, spread over something, spread quickly

To make information, ideas, or something harmful reach many people or places.

• Please spread the word about our event.
• He spread false rumours about his neighbour.
• Dirty water can spread disease.

How to use it: spread something among people (They spread the message among local students.)

Similar words: circulate, disseminate

Opposites: contain, suppress

Common phrases: spread the word, spread rumours, spread disease

To move parts of your body or other things further apart.

• Spread your fingers wide.
• The bird spread its wings.
• He spread his arms to keep his balance.

Similar words: extend, stretch out, splay

Common phrases: spread your arms, spread your fingers, spread your wings

To put things in different places over an area.

• Spread the seeds evenly.
• She spread her notes across the table.
• The farmer spread fertilizer over the field.

How to use it: spread something over/across something (We spread sand over the icy path.)

Similar words: scatter, distribute

Opposites: gather, collect

Common phrases: spread seeds, spread something around, spread something evenly

A soft food that you put in a thin layer on bread or other food.

• Try this cheese spread on toast.
• She bought a jar of chocolate spread.
• These spreads contain less fat than butter.

Common phrases: cheese spread, chocolate spread, sandwich spread

A large amount of food, usually several different dishes, set out for people to eat.

• What a lovely spread!
• They prepared a huge spread for the party.
• The guests enjoyed the spread of cakes and sandwiches.

Similar words: feast, banquet

Common phrases: a lovely spread, put on a spread, a delicious spread

A large piece of cloth used to cover a bed or another piece of furniture.

• She put a fresh spread on the bed.
• The cotton spread matched the bedroom curtains.
• We washed both spreads before the guests arrived.

Similar words: cover, bedspread, coverlet

Common phrases: a cotton spread, a quilted spread, spread on something