open out (something) so as to extend its surface area, width, or length

I spread a towel on the sand and sat down

she helped Colin to spread out the map

extend over a large or increasing area

rain over north-west Scotland will spread south-east during the day

apply (a substance) to an object or surface in an even layer

he sighed, spreading jam on a croissant

lay (a table) for a meal

the fact or process of spreading over an area

warmer temperatures could help reduce the spread of the disease

the spread of the urban population into rural areas

the extent, width, or area covered by something

the male's antlers can attain a spread of six feet

the range or variety of something

a wide spread of ages

a soft paste that can be applied in a layer to bread or other food

low-fat spreads

cheese spread

an article or advertisement covering several columns or pages of a newspaper or magazine, especially one on two facing pages

a double-page spread

a large and impressively elaborate meal

his mother laid on a huge spread

a bedspread

a patchwork spread