1
general::
spread sth over sth
to arrange for something to happen in stages during a period of time
• The course is spread over two years.
• The repayments on the loan can be spread out over three years., spread out
If people spread out, they move from being close together in a group to being in different places across a larger area
• They spread out to search the whole area.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
verb open sth so that you can see all of it ADV. carefully | out We spread the rug out on the floor. PREP. across, on, over PHRASES spread sth open He had a newspaper spread open on his knee. reach more people/wider area ADV. fast, like wildfire, quickly, rapidly, soon The news spread like wildfire. | gradually, slowly | easily The disease spreads easily. | widely Allow plenty of space for this plant as its roots spread widely. | far and wide His fame had spread far and wide. | geographically Friends may be spread geographically. Neighbours, by definition, are nearby. | outwards PREP. across, among, around/round, beyond, from, into, over, through, throughout, to The effects of this policy spread far beyond children now at school. The fire rapidly spread to adjoining buildings. PHRASES thinly spread Expertise in this field is very thinly spread across the country. cover a surface with a soft substance ADV. generously, liberally, thickly | lightly, thinly | evenly Don't make the paste too thick, or it will not spread evenly. PREP. on He spread jam on the toast. | with Spread each slice generously with butter. divide/share sth ADV. equally, evenly, uniformly | unevenly VERB + SPREAD try to PREP. among, between We tried to spread the workload evenly between the departments. | over The course takes forty hours, spread over twenty weeks., noun ADJ. good, great, wide | rapid | gradual, slow | geographical, global The current survey will have a wider geographical spread. VERB + SPREAD encourage Such unhygienic conditions encourage the spread of disease. | halt, prevent, stop | control, limit, reduce PREP. ~ of the spread of fire
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
3
general::
spread
nouns
a disease spreads/is spread
(= among a group of people )
• The disease is spread by mosquitoes.
a cancer/infection spreads
(= in someone’s body )
• The cancer had spread to his brain.
news/word spreads
• As news of his death spread, his army disintegrated.
spread the news/the word
• He has been spreading the word about ways to beat heart disease.
spread a story
( also spread a rumour British English , spread a rumor American English )
• When Brown’s hotel burned down, Clark spread the rumor that Forsyth was to blame.
a story spreads
( also a rumour spreads British English , a rumor spreads American English )
• It was the sort of story that would spread like wildfire.
spread lies/gossip
• How dare you spread such vicious lies! • Has someone been spreading malicious gossip?
spread terror/panic
• The murders were clearly intended to spread terror.
fire spreads
( also flames spread )
• The fire had spread to a nearby shed.
violence/fighting spreads
• There is no indication that the violence is likely to spread.
sb’s fame/reputation spreads
• Their musical fame has spread far beyond their native country.
adverbs
spread rapidly/quickly
• The fire spread rapidly, consuming many of the houses.
phrases
spread like wildfire
(= spread extremely quickly )
• The news spread like wildfire through the town.
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