Reading Theme:
Spread Meaning, Examples & Common Collocations (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：become widespread (spread)
spread
/spred/
v./n.
When something like news, a rumor, a disease, or an idea moves from one person or place to many others.
become widespread
➕
/bɪˈkʌm ˈwaɪdspred/
v./n.
To cause something to move or be distributed over a larger area or to more people than before.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Old English 'sprædan', to stretch out. Root 'spr-' suggests scattering.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of 's' + 'bread': you spread butter on bread, and news spreads like butter across a surface.
📖 Example
The good news about the community garden spread quickly through the neighborhood chat group.
The good news about the community garden spread quickly through the neighborhood chat group.
🔗 Collocations
spread news – to disseminate information to many people
spread rumors – to circulate unverified information
spread disease – to transmit illness from one person to another
🔄 Synonyms
propagate (v.) – to breed or multiply, or to spread ideas or information
disseminate (v.) – to scatter or distribute widely, especially information
circulate (v.) – to move around or be passed from person to person
🚫 Antonyms
concentrate (v.) – to gather together in one place or area
withhold (v.) – to keep information from being known
contain (v.) – to prevent something from spreading or escaping
🌱 Derivatives
spreadable (adj.) – capable of being spread
spreader (n.) – a person or tool that spreads something
overspread (v.) – to cover or spread over the surface of
📖 Cultural Story
The word 'spread' comes from Germanic roots, related to Dutch 'spreiden' and German 'spreiten'. Originally used for stretching cloth, its figurative use for information dissemination appeared in the 16th century.
Meaning 2：apply a layer (spread)
spread
/spred/
v./n.
To put a soft substance like butter, jam, or cream onto a surface, especially bread, in a thin, even layer.
apply a layer
➕
/əˈplaɪ ə ˈleɪər/
v./n.
To cover a surface with a thin, even layer of a soft substance, especially food.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
For breakfast, she likes to spread a thick layer of peanut butter on her whole-wheat toast.
For breakfast, she likes to spread a thick layer of peanut butter on her whole-wheat toast.
🔗 Collocations
spread butter – to apply butter evenly on bread or toast
spread jam – to coat bread with fruit preserve
spread cream cheese – to cover a bagel or cracker with soft cheese
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
spreadable (adj.) – soft enough to be spread easily
spreader (n.) – a knife or tool used to spread soft substances
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