Friday, November 18, 2011

Spread

Spread = (i) to make widely known: ‘Spread the news.’ (ii) to distribute over an area: ‘He spreads fertilizer in the land.’ (iii) disperse widely: ‘The invaders spread their language all over the country.’ (iv) to open out something from a closed or folded state, especially over a flat surface (WITH out): ‘Spread out the map.’ ‘Clothes were all spread out on the bed, ready to be packed.’

When you mean ‘grow, develop, or become increasingly common’ use spread (WITHOUT out): ‘They could not stop the fire from spreading.’

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