spread out v 1: move outward; "The soldiers fanned out" [syn: diffuse, spread, spread out, fan out] 2: set out or stretch in a line, succession, or series; "the houses were strung out in a long row" [syn: string out, spread out] 3: strew or distribute over an area; "He spread fertilizer over the lawn"; "scatter cards across the table" [syn: spread, scatter, spread out] 4: extend in one or more directions; "The dough expands" [syn: expand, spread out] [ant: contract, shrink] 5: turn outward; "These birds can splay out their toes"; "ballet dancers can rotate their legs out by 90 degrees" [syn: turn out}, splay, spread out, rotate] 6: move away from each other; "The crowds dispersed"; "The children scattered in all directions when the teacher approached"; [syn: disperse, dissipate, scatter, spread out] 7: spread out or open from a closed or folded state; "open the map"; "spread your arms" [syn: unfold, spread, spread out}, open] [ant: fold, fold up, turn up]

spread out I. 1. If people, animals, or vehicles spread out, they move apart from each other. Felix watched his men move like soldiers, spreading out into two teams. PHRASAL VERB: V P 2. If something such as a city or forest spreads out, it gets larger and gradually begins to covers a larger area. Cities such as Tokyo are spreading out... PHRASAL VERB: V P 3. see spread 1 4. see spread 2 II. If people or things are spread out, they are a long way apart. The Kurds are spread out across five nations. ADJ: usu v-link ADJ

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