1 [I,T] to affect a larger area or a bigger group of people; to make sth do this (使)传播,蔓延:
The fire spread rapidly because of the strong wind.火势因强风而迅速蔓延。Rats and flies spread disease.老鼠和苍蝇会传播疾病。 [T] to spread rumours about sb散布关于某人的谣言
2 [T] spread sth (out) (on/over sth) to open sth that has been folded so that it covers a larger area; to move things so that they cover a larger area 摊开;展开:
Spread the map out on the table so we can all see it!把地图摊开在桌子上,好让我们都可以看到!
3 [T] spread A on/over B;spread B with A to cover a surface with a layer of a soft substance 涂;敷:
to spread jam on bread把果酱涂在面包上to spread bread with jam在面包上涂果酱
4 [T] spread sth (out) (over sth) to separate sth into parts and divide them between different times or people 使分期或分批进行:
You can spread your repayments over a period of three years.你可以在三年内分期还款。
spread (sb/yourself) out to move away from the others in a group of people in order to cover a larger area (指人)分散到更大的范围:
The police spread out to search the whole area.警察散开来搜查整个地区。
spread²
/spred ||; sprɛd/noun
1 [U] an increase in the amount or number of sth that there is, or in the area that is affected by sth 伸展;蔓延;扩散:
Dirty drinking water encourages the spread of disease.肮脏的饮用水会加速疾病的传播。
2 [C,U] a soft food that you put on bread 涂面包的酱
3 [C] a newspaper or magazine article that covers one or more pages (报纸或杂志上)全版文章或跨页文章:
a double-page spread一篇横跨两页的文章