spread /spred/ vt. & vi. (spread) 1.伸开，展开，铺开：The bird spread its wings.鸟儿展开双翅。 spread a cloth on a table/spread a table with a cloth 把桌布铺在桌面上 spread out 摊开： spread out a map(newspaper) 摊开地图(报纸)；spread (out) one’s arms 展开双臂 2.（使）传播，（使）散布：spread knowledge 传播知识；spread rumours 散布谣言 The rumour quickly spread through the village. 这谣言很快就在村子里传开了。 3. 伸展，扩展：The desert spreads for hundreds of miles. 沙漠绵延数百英里。 4.传开，蔓延开：spread from mouth to mouth 众口流传 The fire spreads quickly.火势迅速蔓延。5. 涂，敷：spread the paint evenly 把油漆抹匀；spread butter on the bread 在面包上抹黄油 ‖II. n. [u]传播，蔓延：the spread of the disease 疾病的传播