2
general::
noun length ADJ. full | broad, wide a broad span of interests | clear The bridge has a clear span of 36 metres. | 12-foot, 500-metre, etc. | wing (also wingspan) The bird has a 1-metre wingspan. length of time ADJ. long | short | 10-day, 2-week, etc. | entire | allotted The speech continued well beyond its allotted span. | time | life (also lifespan) | attention, concentration, memory He has a short attention span. VERB + SPAN cover The book covers the entire span of Arab history. PREP. over a/the ~ Developments were monitored over a span of two years. PHRASES a span of time/years
Oxford Collocations Dictionary