spread

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

v. scatter, strew; disseminate, diffuse, circulate; cover; unfold, stretch; part, separate; show, display; expand, disperse, deploy. —n. diffusion, expansion; extent, expanse; bedspread, coverlet; meal, banquet, collation; layout; ranch. See covering, food, increase, publication.

II

(Roget's IV) modif.

Syn. expanded, dispersed, extended, opened, unfurled, sown, scattered, diffused, strewn, spread thin, disseminated, overflowed, broadcast; see also distributed .

Ant. restricted*, narrowed, restrained.

n.

1. [Extent]

Syn. scope, range, expanse; see extent , measure 1 .

2. [A spread cloth]

Syn. blanket, coverlet, counterpane; see bedspread , cover 1 , tablecloth .

3. [A spread food]

Syn. preserve, conserve, jelly; see butter , cheese , preserves .

4. [*A meal]

Syn. feast, banquet, informal repast; see dinner , lunch , meal 2 .

v.

1. [To distribute]

Syn. cast, diffuse, disseminate; see radiate 1 , scatter 2 , sow .

2. [To become spread]

Syn. lie, flatten, level, flow, even out, be distributed, settle.

3. [To extend]

Syn. open, unfurl, roll out, unroll, unfold, reach, circulate, lengthen, widen, expand, untwist, unwind, uncoil, enlarge, increase, develop, radiate, branch off, diverge, expand; see also grow 1 , reach 1 .

Ant. close*, shorten, shrink.

4. [To apply over a surface]

Syn. cover, coat, smear, daub, overlay, overspread, plate, gloss, enamel, paint, spatter, spray, veneer, plaster, gild, pave, diffuse, wax, varnish.

5. [To separate]

Syn. part, sever, disperse; see divide 1 , separate 2 .

6. [To make known]

Syn. publish, broadcast, proclaim; see advertise 1 , declare 1 .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

1. extension expansion, spreading, increase, mushrooming, growth, broadening, contagion, proliferation, diffusion, span, extent, range, scope, expanse.

2. feast banquet, smorgasbord, meal, buffet.

II

v.

1. unfold open, unfurl, stretch out, stretch, sprawl, splay, uncoil, display.

2. expand extend, increase, mushroom, grow, broaden, proliferate, cover, disperse, pervade, permeate.

3. scatter strew, distribute, disperse, sprinkle.

4. disseminate broadcast, publicize, trumpet, circulate, publish, promulgate, advertise.

5. apply slather, daub, smear, paint, plaster.

ANT.: 1. close, fold, curl, contract. 2. shrink, contract, recede. 3. gather, amass, pile. 4. censor, keep quiet

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I verb 1. To move or arrange so as to cover a larger area: expand, extend, fan1 (out), open (out or up), outstretch, stretch, unfold, unroll. See MOVE. 2. To extend over a wide area: circulate, diffuse, disperse, disseminate, distribute, radiate, scatter, strew. See MOVE, WIDE. 3. To extend over the surface of: blanket, cap, cover, overlay. See PUT ON. 4. To cause (a disease) to pass to another or others: carry, communicate, convey, give, pass, transmit. See MOVE. 5. To make (information) generally known: advertise, blaze2, blazon, broadcast, bruit, circulate, disseminate, noise, promulgate, propagate. Idioms: spread far and wide, spread the word. See KNOWLEDGE. 6. To become known far and wide: circulate, get around, go around, travel. Idiom: go (or make) the rounds. See KNOWLEDGE. 7. To arrange tableware upon (a table) in preparation for a meal: lay1, set1. See ORDER. II noun 1. The act of increasing in dimensions, scope, or inclusiveness: enlargement, expansion, extension. See INCREASE. 2. A wide and open area, as of land, sky, or water: distance, expanse, expansion, extent, reach, space, stretch, sweep. See PLACE. 3. Informal. A large meal elaborately prepared or served: banquet, feast, junket. Informal: feed. See INGESTION.