- with obj. open out (something) so as to extend its surface area, width, or length摊开; 铺开; 展开：
I spread a towel on the sand and sat down
我在沙滩上铺开一条毛巾, 然后坐了下来
she helped Colin to spread out the map.
她帮助科林摊开地图。
- stretch out (arms, legs, hands, fingers, or wings) so that they are far apart伸开; 张开（胳膊, 腿, 手, 手指, 翅膀）：
the swan spread its wings.
天鹅展开双翼。
- no obj., with adverbial extend over a large or increasing area蔓延, 延伸：
rain over north-west Scotland will spread south-east during the day.
苏格兰西北部的降雨带白天会向东南部延伸。
spread out
(of a group of people) move apart so as to cover a wider area（一组人员为覆盖更宽的区域而）散开：the Marines spread out across the docks.
美国海军陆战队的士兵在港区四处散开。
- with obj. and adverbial distribute or disperse (something) over a certain area撒; 散播：
volcanic eruptions spread dust high into the stratosphere.
火山喷发把灰尘高高散播到同温层。
- gradually reach or cause to reach a larger and larger area or more and more people传开; 散布; 蔓延：
no obj. the violence spread from the city centre to the suburbs暴力活动从市中心蔓延到郊区
with obj. she's always spreading rumours about other people.她总是散布有关别人的谣言。
- (of people, animals, or plants) become distributed over a large or larger area（人, 动物, 植物）分布; 分散开来：
the owls have spread as far north as Kuala Lumpur.
猫头鹰最北已经分布到吉隆坡。
- with obj. and adverbial distribute (something) in a specified way以特定方式分散（或分摊）; 把…分期完成：
you can spread the payments over as long a period as you like.
你的分期付款期限愿意多长就多长。
- with obj. and adverbial apply (a substance) to an object or surface in an even layer（均匀地）涂抹, 涂, 敷：
he sighed, spreading jam on a croissant.
他边叹气边往羊角面包上涂果酱。
- cover (a surface) with a substance in such a way（均匀地）涂于, 敷于：
spread each slice thinly with mayonnaise.
在每一片上薄薄地涂上一层蛋黄酱。
- no obj., with adverbial be able to be applied in such a way易于涂抹（或敷匀）：
a tub of unsalted butter that spreads so well.
一桶非常易于涂抹的淡黄油。
- with obj. archaic lay (a table) for a meal〈古〉摆桌子以备进餐; 把饭菜摆在（餐桌）上。
- mass noun the fact or process of spreading over an area伸展; 扩张; 传播; 蔓延：
the spread of Aids
艾滋病的蔓延
the spread of the urban population into rural areas.
城市人口向乡村地区扩张。
- the extent, width, or area covered by something延展度; 宽度; 覆盖面; 幅员：
the male's antlers can attain a spread of six feet.
雄鹿的双角可宽达六英尺。
- the wingspan of a bird翼展。
- an expanse or amount of something一大片：
the green spread of the park.
公园一大片宽阔的绿地。
- N. Amer. a large farm or ranch〈北美〉大农场; 大牧场。
- the range or variety of something范围, 幅度; 种类：
a wide spread of ages.
很大的年龄跨度。
- the difference between two rates or prices（费率或价格之间的）差异, 差距; 差额：
the very narrow spread between borrowing and deposit rates.
微小的存、贷款利差。
- short for POINT SPREAD.POINT SPREAD的简称。
- a soft paste that can be applied in a layer to bread or other food涂抹食品的酱类。
- an article or advertisement covering several columns or pages of a newspaper or magazine, especially one on two facing pages（报刊上）跨数栏（或数版）的文章（或广告）（尤指占相对两页的文章或广告）：
a double-page spread.
一篇占用两版的文章。
- N. Amer. a bedspread〈北美〉床单; 床罩。
- informal a large and impressively elaborate meal〈非正式〉丰盛的饭菜, 盛宴。