/spred; sprɛd/
v (pt, pp spread)
1 (a) [Tn, Tn.pr, Tn.p] ~ sth (out) (on/over sth) extend the surface area, width or length of sth by unfolding or unrolling it 展开; 铺开; 摊开
*The bird spread (out) its wings. 那只鸟张开了翅膀.
* spread a cloth on the table 把桌布铺在桌子上
* spread out one's arms, eg to welcome or embrace sb 张开两臂（如欢迎或拥抱某人）
* spread the map out on the floor 在地板上摊开地图.
(b) [Tn.pr] ~ sth with sth cover sth with sth by doing this 将某物铺于某物上
*spread a table with a cloth 把桌布铺在桌子上.
2 (a) [Tn.pr] ~ A on B put (a substance) on (a surface) and extend its area by flattening, etc; apply sth as a layer on sth 在（某物表面）上涂（某物）; 敷
*spread butter on bread 把黄油涂在面包上
* spread glue on paper 把胶水涂在纸上.
(b) [Tn.pr] ~ B with A cover (a surface) with (a substance) by doing this 将（某物）涂在（某物表面）上
*spread bread with butter 把黄油涂在面包上.
(c) [I] be able to be spread in this way; be applied in a layer 能涂敷; 被涂开
*Butter spreads more easily when it's softer. 黄油软一些就容易涂抹.
* margarine that spreads straight from the fridge, ie does not go hard when cold 从冰箱中取出便可涂开的人造黄油.
3 [I, Ipr, Tn, Tn.pr]
(a) (cause sth to) become (more) widely known, felt or suffered （使某事物）传播, 流传, 蔓延
*The disease is spreading fast. 这种病正在迅速蔓延.
* Fear spread quickly through the village. 全村不多久便人心惶惶了.
* The strike has already spread to other factories. 这次罢工已在其他工厂产生连锁反应.
* The water spread over the floor. 水流了一地.
* Flies spread disease. 苍蝇能传播疾病.
* He spread the news around the town. 他在镇上到处传播这一消息.
(b) (cause sth to) become distributed （使某事物）散布, 散开
*Settlers soon spread inland. 移居到发展中地区的人不久就迁徙到内地了.
4 [I, Ipr] extend in size, area, etc 扩大; 伸展; 扩展
*a desert spreading for hundreds of miles 绵延上百英里的沙漠
* The forest spreads as far as the river. 这片森林一直延伸到河边.
5 [Tn, Tn.pr] ~ sth (over sth) distribute sth over a period of time 将某事物分散于某段时间内
*spread the payments over three months 分三个月付清
* a course of studies spread over three years 为期三年的课程.
6 [usupassive 通常用于被动语态
*Tn, Tn.pr] ~ sth (with sth)prepare (a table) for a meal 在（餐桌）上摆上饭菜
*The table was spread with cakes and sandwiches. 桌上摆好了糕饼和三明治.
7 (idm 习语) spread like `wildfire (esp of rumours, reports, disease) travel, spread, etc very fast （尤指谣言、传闻、疾病）飞速地传开、蔓延等
*The news spread like wildfire. 这消息不胫而走. spread one's `net prepare to catch sb or get sb in one's power or influence 布下罗网（以捉住某人或迫使某人就范）. `spread oneself
(a) occupy much space (eg by lying out with limbs extended) 占用很多地方（如四肢摊开躺着）
*Since there was no one else in the compartment I was able to spread myself. 车厢间隔里没有别人, 我正好能伸胳膊伸腿舒坦一下.
(b) talk or write at length (on a subject) （就某主题）滔滔不绝地说或长篇大论地写.
(c) spend or provide things generously 大方地花费或提供物品. spread one's `wings (have confidence to) extend one's activities and interests （有信心去）扩展活动和爱好
*We hope college life will help him to spread his wings a bit. 我们希望大学生活有助于他扩展兴趣爱好.
8 (phr v) spread (sb/oneself) out move (sb/oneself) away from others in a group so as to cover a wider area 使（某人[自己]）离开其他人或散开
*The search party spread out over the moor. 搜索队在荒草地分散行动.
* Don't all sit together, spread yourselves out. 别都挤在一块儿, 分开坐吧.

n
1 (usu sing 通常作单数)
(a) extent, width or expanse of sth 范围; 宽度; 宽阔度
*the spread of a bird's wings 鸟的翼展
* The survey revealed a wide spread of opinion. 调查结果表明各种意见差别很大.
(b) extent of space or time; stretch （空间的）范围; 连续的一段时间
*a spread of
100 years 100年的时间.
2 [U] process or activity of spreading (spread 3) or being spread; extension; diffusion 传播; 散布; 蔓延; 扩散
*the spread of disease, knowledge, education 疾病的蔓延、知识的传播、教育的普及
* the spread of crime 犯罪活动的蔓延.
3 [C] newspaper or magazine article, advertisement, etc, esp one covering more than one printed column 报刊文 章或广告等（尤指跨栏的）
*a double-page spread 横贯两版篇幅的文章.
4 [C] (infml 口) (usu large) meal spread out on a table （通常指丰盛的）一桌饭菜
*What a spread! 多丰盛的饭菜呀!
5 (usu in compounds 通常用以构成复合词)
(a) [C] thing that is spread(1b), esp a cloth for covering sth 铺开之物; （尤指）用以铺盖某物的布
*a `bedspread 床单.
(b) [C, U] expansion 扩展
*(joc 谑) middle-aged spread, ie increased size around the waist in middle age 中年发福（即腰围增大）.
6 [U, C] sweet or savoury paste spread on bread, etc （涂抹面包等的）美味酱
*chocolate spread 巧克力酱
* cheese spreads 乾酪酱.

In options trading, a bear spread is a bearish, vertical spread options strategy that can be used when the options trader is moderately bearish on the underlying security.