span1/spæn; spæn/n [C] 1 a length of time in which something happens or continues〔某事的〕持续时间: within/in/over a span (of sth) Can the project be completed within that time span ? 这项目在那段时间里能完成吗?The mayfly has a two-day life span (=lives for two days). 蜉蝣只有两天的寿命。attention/concentration span (=how long you can pay attention to something) 注意力持续时间2 the distance from one side of something to the other〔某物从一边到另一边的〕全长﹐距离: a bird with a large wing span 一只翼展宽大的鸟
span2v [T] spanned , spanning 1 to include all of a period of time 持续﹐贯穿〔某段时间〕: a career which spanned 45 years 持续了 45 年的职业生涯2 to go from one side of something to the other 跨越﹐横跨: a bridge spanning the river 一座跨河的桥