Spread (sprĕd), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Spread; p. pr. & vb. n.Spreading.] [OE. spreden, AS. sprædan; akin to D. spreiden, spreijen, LG. spreden, spreen, spreien, G. spreiten, Dan. sprede, Sw. sprida. Cf. Spray water flying in drops.] 1. To extend in length and breadth, or in breadth only; to stretch or expand to a broad or broader surface or extent; to open; to unfurl; as, to spread a carpet; to spread a tent or a sail.
He bought a parcel of a field where he had spread his tent. Gen. xxxiii. 19.
Here the Rhone
Hath spread himself a couch. Byron.
2. To extend so as to cover something; to extend to a great or greater extent in every direction; to cause to fill or cover a wide or wider space.
Rose, as in a dance, the stately trees, and spread
Their branches hung with copious fruit. Milton.
3. To divulge; to publish, as news or fame; to cause to be more extensively known; to disseminate; to make known fully; as, to spread a report; — often accompanied by abroad.
They, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. Matt. ix. 31.
4. To propagate; to cause to affect great numbers; as, to spread a disease.
5. To diffuse, as emanations or effluvia; to emit; as, odoriferous plants spread their fragrance.
6. To strew; to scatter over a surface; as, to spread manure; to spread lime on the ground.
7. To prepare; to set and furnish with provisions; as, to spread a table.
Boiled the flesh, and spread the board. Tennyson.
To spread cloth, to unfurl sail. Evelyn.
Syn. — To diffuse; propagate; disperse; publish; distribute; scatter; circulate; disseminate; dispense.