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spread

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spread

  [spred] verb, spread, spread⋅ing, noun, adjective
Use spread in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to draw, stretch, or open out, esp. over a flat surface, as something rolled or folded (often fol. by out).
2. to stretch out or unfurl in the air, as folded wings, a flag, etc. (often fol. by out).
3. to distribute over a greater or a relatively great area of space or time (often fol. by out): to spread out the papers on the table.
4. to display or exhibit the full extent of; set out in full: He spread the pots on the ground and started hawking his wares.
5. to dispose or distribute in a sheet or layer: to spread hay to dry.
6. to apply in a thin layer or coating: to spread butter on a slice of bread.
7. to overlay or cover with something: She spread the blanket over her knees.
8. to set or prepare (a table), as for a meal.
9. to extend or distribute over a region, place, period of time, among a group, etc.
10. to send out, scatter, or shed in various directions, as sound, light, etc.
11. to scatter abroad; diffuse or disseminate, as knowledge, news, disease, etc.: to spread the word of the gospel.
12. to move or force apart: He spread his arms over his head in surrender.
13. to flatten out: to spread the end of a rivet by hammering.
14. Phonetics.
a. to extend the aperture between (the lips) laterally, so as to reduce it vertically, during an utterance.
b. to delabialize. Compare round (def. 57c), unround.
–verb (used without object)
15. to become stretched out or extended, as a flag in the wind; expand, as in growth.
16. to extend over a greater or a considerable area or period: The factory spread along the river front.
17. to be or lie outspread or fully extended or displayed, as a landscape or scene.
18. to admit of being spread or applied in a thin layer, as a soft substance: Margarine spreads easily.
19. to become extended or distributed over a region, as population, animals, plants, etc.
20. to become shed abroad, diffused, or disseminated, as light, influences, rumors, ideas, infection, etc.
21. to be forced apart, as the rails of a railroad track; separate.
–noun
22. an act or instance of spreading: With a spread of her arms the actress acknowledged the applause.
23. expansion, extension, or diffusion: the spread of consumerism.
24. the extent of spreading: to measure the spread of branches.
25. Finance.
a. the difference between the prices bid and asked of stock or a commodity for a given time.
b. a type of straddle in which the call price is placed above and the put price is placed below the current market quotation.
c. the difference between any two prices or rates for related costs: the widening spread between lending and borrowing costs.
d. Stock Exchange. a broker's profit or the difference between his or her buying and selling price.
e. any difference between return on assets and costs of liabilities.
26. capacity for spreading: the spread of an elastic material.
27. a distance or range, as between two points or dates: The long-distance movers planned a five-day spread between pickup and delivery.
28. a stretch, expanse, or extent of something: a spread of timber.
29. a cloth covering for a bed, table, or the like, esp. a bedspread.
30. Informal. an abundance of food set out on a table; feast.
31. any food preparation for spreading on bread, crackers, etc., as jam or peanut butter.
32. Aeronautics. wingspan.
33. Also called layout. Journalism. (in newspapers and magazines) an extensive, varied treatment of a subject, consisting primarily either of a number of cuts (picture spread) or of a major story and several supplementary stories, usually extending across three or more columns. Compare double truck.
34. an advertisement, photograph, article, or the like, covering several columns, a full page, or two facing pages of a newspaper, magazine, book, etc.: a full-page spread; a two-page spread.
35. two facing pages, as of a newspaper, magazine, or book.
36. landed property, as a farm or ranch.
37. lay 1 (def. 40).
38. point spread.
–adjective
39. Jewelry. (of a gem) cut with the table too large and the crown too shallow for maximum brilliance; swindled.
40. Phonetics. (of the opening between the lips) extended laterally. Compare rounded (def. 2), unrounded.
—Idiom
41. spread oneself thin, to carry on so many projects simultaneously that none is done adequately, or that one's health suffers: Many college students spread themselves thin by taking on too many activities during the semester.
Origin:
1150–1200; ME spreden (v.), OE sprǣdan; c. MD spreden, G spreiten

Synonyms:
1. unfold, unroll, expand. 10. emit, diffuse, radiate. 11. disperse, scatter, publish, circulate, promulgate, propagate. 15. stretch, dilate. 24. reach, compass.
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lay

1  [ley] verb, laid, lay⋅ing, noun
–verb (used with object)
1. to put or place in a horizontal position or position of rest; set down: to lay a book on a desk.
2. to knock or beat down, as from an erect position; strike or throw to the ground: One punch laid him low.
3. to put or place in a particular position: The dog laid its ears back.
4. to cause to be in a particular state or condition: Their motives were laid bare.
5. to set, place, or apply (often fol. by to or on): to lay hands on a child.
6. to dispose or place in proper position or in an orderly fashion: to lay bricks.
7. to place on, along, or under a surface: to lay a pipeline.
8. to establish as a basis; set up: to lay the foundations for further negotiations.
9. to present or submit for notice or consideration: I laid my case before the commission.
10. to present, bring forward, or make, as a claim or charge.
11. to impute, attribute, or ascribe: to lay blame on the inspector.
12. to bury: They laid him in the old churchyard.
13. to bring forth and deposit (an egg or eggs).
14. to impose as a burden, duty, penalty, or the like: to lay an embargo on oil shipments.
15. to place dinner service on (a table); set.
16. to place on or over a surface, as paint; cover or spread with something else.
17. to devise or arrange, as a plan.
18. to deposit as a wager; bet: He laid $10 on the horse.
19. to set (a trap).
20. to place, set, or locate: The scene is laid in France.
21. to smooth down or make even: to lay the nap of cloth.
22. to cause to subside: laying the clouds of dust with a spray of water.
23. Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with.
24. to bring (a stick, lash, etc.) down, as on a person, in inflicting punishment.
25. to form by twisting strands together, as a rope.
26. Nautical. to move or turn (a sailing vessel) into a certain position or direction.
27. to aim a cannon in a specified direction at a specified elevation.
28. to put (dogs) on a scent.
–verb (used without object)
29. to lay eggs.
30. to wager or bet.
31. to apply oneself vigorously.
32. to deal or aim blows vigorously (usually fol. by on, at, about, etc.).
33. Nonstandard. lie 2 .
34. South Midland U.S. to plan or scheme (often fol. by out).
35. Midland and Southern U.S. (of the wind) to diminish; subside: When the wind lays, it'll rain.
36. Nautical. to take up a specified position, direction, etc.: to lay aloft; to lay close to the wind.
–noun
37. the way or position in which a thing is laid or lies: the lay of the land.
38. Slang: Vulgar.
a. a partner in sexual intercourse.
b. an instance of sexual intercourse.
39. Ropemaking. the quality of a fiber rope characterized by the degree of twist, the angles formed by the strands, and the fibers in the strands.
40. Also called lay-up, spread. (in the garment industry) multiple layers of fabric upon which a pattern or guide is placed for production-line cutting.
41. batten 3 (defs. 1, 2).
42. a share of the profits or the catch of a whaling or fishing voyage, distributed to officers and crew.
—Verb phrases
43. lay aside,
a. to abandon; reject.
b. to save for use at a later time; store: to lay aside some money every month.
44. lay away,
a. to reserve for later use; save.
b. to hold merchandise pending final payment or request for delivery: to lay away a winter coat.
c. to bury: They laid him away in the tomb.
45. lay back, Slang. to relax.
46. lay by,
a. to put away for future use; store; save: She had managed to lay by money for college from her earnings as a babysitter.
b. Nautical. (of a sailing vessel) to come to a standstill; heave to; lay to.
c. Midland and Southern U.S. to tend (a crop) for the last time, leaving it to mature without further cultivation.
47. lay down,
a. to give up; yield: to lay down one's arms.
b. to assert firmly; state authoritatively: to lay down rigid rules of conduct.
c. to stock; store: to lay down wine.
d. Shipbuilding. to draw at full size (the lines of a hull), as on the floor of a mold loft; lay off; loft.
48. lay for, Informal. to wait for in order to attack or surprise; lie in wait for: The police are laying for him.
49. lay in, to store away for future use: We laid in a supply of canned goods.
50. lay into, Informal. to attack physically or verbally; assail: He laid into the opposition with fiery words.
51. lay off,
a. to dismiss (an employee), esp. temporarily because of slack business.
b. Informal. to cease or quit: He promised to lay off drinking.
c. Slang. to stop annoying or teasing: Lay off me, will you?
d. Informal. to stop work: They laid off at four and went home.
e. to put aside or take off.
f. to mark off; measure; plot.
g. Slang. to give or hand over; pass on: They laid off their old sofa on the neighborhood recreation center.
h. (of a bookmaker) to transfer all or part of (a wager) to other bookmakers in order to be protected against heavy losses.
i. to get rid of or transfer (blame, responsibility, etc.): He tried to lay off the guilt for the crime on his son.
j. Nautical. to sail away from.
k. Nautical. to remain stationary at a distance from.
l. Shipbuilding. lay 1 (def. 47d).
52. lay on,
a. to cover with; apply: to lay on a coat of wax.
b. to strike blows; attack violently: When the mob became unruly, the police began to lay on.
c. Nautical. to sail toward.
d. Nautical. to row (an oar) with a full stroke.
e. Slang. to tell, impart, or give to: Let me lay a little good advice on you.
f. Chiefly British Informal. to provide as a gift, bonus, or treat; give; treat: The owners laid on a Christmas dinner for the employees.
53. lay open,
a. to cut open: to lay open an area of tissue with a scalpel.
b. to expose; reveal: Her autobiography lays open shocking facts about her childhood.
c. to expose or make vulnerable, as to blame, suspicion, or criticism: He was careful not to lay himself open to charges of partiality.
54. lay out,
a. to extend at length.
b. to spread out in order; arrange; prepare.
c. to plan; plot; design.
d. to ready (a corpse) for burial.
e. Informal. to spend or contribute (money).
f. Slang. to knock (someone) down or unconscious.
g. Slang. to scold vehemently; reprimand: Whenever I come home late from school, my mom really lays me out.
h. to make a layout of.
i. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to absent oneself from school or work without permission or justification; play hooky.
55. lay over,
a. to be postponed until action may be taken: The vote will have to be laid over until next week.
b. to make a stop, as during a trip: We will have to lay over in Lyons on our way to the Riviera.
56. lay to,
a. Nautical. to check the motion of (a ship).
b. Nautical. to put (a ship) in a dock or other place of safety.
c. to attack vigorously.
d. to put forth effort; apply oneself.
57. lay up,
a. to put away for future use; store up.
b. to cause to be confined to bed or kept indoors; disable.
c. Nautical. to retire (a ship) from active use.
d. Nautical. (of a ship) to be retired from active use.
e. to construct (a masonry structure): The masons laid the outer walls up in Flemish bond.
f. to apply (alternate layers of a material and a binder) to form a bonded material.
—Idioms
58. get laid, Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse.
59. lay aboard, Nautical. (formerly, of a fighting ship) to come alongside (another fighting ship) in order to board.
60. lay about one,
a. to strike or aim blows in every direction.
b. to proceed to do; set about.
61. lay a course,
a. Nautical. to sail in the desired direction without tacking.
b. to proceed according to a plan.
62. lay close, Nautical. (of a sailing vessel) to sail close to the wind.
63. lay it on, to exaggerate in one's speech or actions, esp. to engage in exaggerated flattery or reproof: She was glad to be told what a splendid person she was, but they didn't have to lay it on so much. Also, lay it on thick.
64. lay low. low 1 (defs. 50, 51).
65. lay oneself out, Informal. to try one's best; make a great effort: They laid themselves out to see that the reception would be a success.
66. lay siege to. siege (def. 9).
Origin:
bef. 900; ME layen, leggen, OE lecgan (causative of licgan to lie 2 ); c. D leggen, G legen, ON legja, Goth lagjan

Synonyms:
1. deposit. See put. 21, 22. calm, still, quiet.

Usage note:
Lay1 and lie2 are often confused. Lay is most commonly a transitive verb and takes an object. Its forms are regular. If “place” or “put” can be substituted in a sentence, a form of lay is called for: Lay the folders on the desk. The mason is laying brick. She laid the baby in the crib. Lay also has many intransitive senses, among them “to lay eggs” (The hens have stopped laying), and it forms many phrasal verbs, such as lay off “to dismiss (from employment)” or “to stop annoying or teasing” and lay over “to make a stop.”
Lie, with the overall senses “to be in a horizontal position, recline” and “to rest, remain, be situated, etc.,” is intransitive and takes no object. Its forms are irregular; its past tense form is identical with the present tense or infinitive form of lay: Lie down, children. Abandoned cars were lying along the road. The dog lay in the shade and watched the kittens play. The folders have lain on the desk since yesterday.
In all but the most careful, formal speech, forms of lay are commonly heard in senses normally associated with lie. In edited written English such uses of lay are rare and are usually considered nonstandard: Lay down, children. The dog laid in the shade. Abandoned cars were laying along the road. The folders have laid on the desk since yesterday.

point spread

 
–noun
a betting device, established by oddsmakers and used to attract bettors for uneven competitions, indicating the estimated number of points by which a stronger team can be expected to defeat a weaker team, the point spread being added to the weaker team's actual points in the game and this new figure then compared to the stronger team's points to determine winning bets.
Also called spread.

Origin:
1950–55, Americanism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To spread
spread   (sprěd)   
v.   spread, spread·ing, spreads

v.   tr.

  1. To open to a fuller extent or width; stretch: spread out the tablecloth; a bird spreading its wings.

  2. To make wider the gap between; move farther apart: spread her fingers.

    1. To distribute over a surface in a layer: spread varnish on the steps.

    2. To cover with a layer: spread a cracker with butter.

    3. To distribute widely: The tornado spread destruction.

    4. To make a wide or extensive arrangement of: We spread the bicycle parts out on the floor.

    5. To exhibit or display the full extent of: the scene that was spread before us.

    6. To prepare (a table) for eating; set.

    7. To arrange (food or a meal) on a table.

    1. To distribute widely: The tornado spread destruction.

    2. To make a wide or extensive arrangement of: We spread the bicycle parts out on the floor.

    3. To exhibit or display the full extent of: the scene that was spread before us.

    4. To prepare (a table) for eating; set.

    5. To arrange (food or a meal) on a table.

  5. To cause to become widely seen or known; scatter or disseminate: spread the news; spread the beam of the flashlight.

    1. To prepare (a table) for eating; set.

    2. To arrange (food or a meal) on a table.

  7. To flatten (a rivet end, for example) by pounding.

v.   intr.

  1. To be extended or enlarged.

  2. To become distributed or widely dispersed.

  3. To increase in range of occurrence; become known or prevalent over a wide area: The word spread fast.

  4. To be exhibited, displayed, or visible in broad or full extent: the vista spread seemingly to infinity.

  5. To become or admit of being distributed in a layer.

  6. To become separated; be forced farther apart.

n.  

    1. The act of spreading.

    2. Dissemination, as of news; diffusion.

    3. An open area of land; an expanse.

    4. A ranch, a farm, or an estate.

    5. Two facing pages of a magazine or newspaper, often with related matter extending across the fold.

    6. A story or advertisement running across two or more columns of a magazine or newspaper.

    7. A position taken in two or more options or futures contracts in order to profit from a change in their relative prices.

    8. The difference between the price asked and bid for a particular security.

    1. An open area of land; an expanse.

    2. A ranch, a farm, or an estate.

    3. Two facing pages of a magazine or newspaper, often with related matter extending across the fold.

    4. A story or advertisement running across two or more columns of a magazine or newspaper.

    5. A position taken in two or more options or futures contracts in order to profit from a change in their relative prices.

    6. The difference between the price asked and bid for a particular security.

  3. The extent or limit to which something is or can be spread; range.

  4. A cloth covering for a bed, table, or other piece of furniture.

  5. Informal An abundant meal laid out on a table.

  6. A food to be spread on bread or crackers.

    1. Two facing pages of a magazine or newspaper, often with related matter extending across the fold.

    2. A story or advertisement running across two or more columns of a magazine or newspaper.

    3. A position taken in two or more options or futures contracts in order to profit from a change in their relative prices.

    4. The difference between the price asked and bid for a particular security.

  8. A difference, as between two figures or totals.

    1. A position taken in two or more options or futures contracts in order to profit from a change in their relative prices.

    2. The difference between the price asked and bid for a particular security.

  10. A number of points offered to equalize the chances of winning in a wager on a competition, usually between sports teams. Also called point spread.

  11. Wingspread.


[Middle English spreden, from Old English -sprǣdan (as in tōsprǣdan, to spread out); see sper- in Indo-European roots.]
spread'a·bil'i·ty n., spread'a·ble adj., spread'a·bly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
lay (sth)

  1. tv.
    to spend some amount of money. : I can't lay that kind of money out every day!
  2. tv.
    to explain a plan of action or a sequence of events. : Let me lay it out for you.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

lay  (v.)
O.E. lecgan "to place on the ground (or other surface)," also "put down (often by striking)," from P.Gmc. *lagjanan (cf. O.S. leggian, O.N. leggja, O.Fris. ledza, M.Du. legghan, Du. leggen, O.H.G. lecken, Ger. legen, Goth. lagjan "to lay, put, place"), causative of lie (v.2). Meaning "way in which something is laid" (lay of the land) first recorded 1819. Meaning "have sex with" first recorded 1934, in U.S. slang, from sense of "deposit" (which was in O.E., as in lay an egg, lay a bet, etc.), perhaps reinforced by to lie with, a frequent phrase in the Bible. The noun meaning "woman available for sexual intercourse" is attested from 1930, but there are suggestions of it in stage puns from as far back as 1767. Lay off "dismiss" (an employee) is from 1868; meaning "stop disturbing" is from 1908. To lay for (someone) "await a chance at revenge" is from 1494; lay low "stay inconspicuous" is from 1839. To lay (someone) low preserves the secondary O.E. sense. Layabout "habitual loafer" is attested from 1932. Layup, the basketball shot, is attested from 1948.

spread  (v.)
c.1200, "to stretch out, to send in various directions," probably from O.E. -sprædan (especially in tosprædan "to spread out," and gesprædung "spreading"), from P.Gmc. *spraidijanan (cf. Dan. sprede, O.Swed. spreda, M.Du. spreiden, O.H.G., Ger. spreiten "to spread"), probably from PIE *sper- "to strew" (see sprout). Reflexive sense of "to extend, expand" is attested from 1340.

spread  (n.)
1691, "extent or expanse of something," from spread (v.). Meaning "copious meal" dates from 1822; sense of "food for spreading" (butter, jam, etc.) is from 1812. Sense of "bed cover" is recorded from 1848, originally Amer.Eng. Meaning "degree of variation" is attested from 1929. Spreadsheet is first attested 1982. Meaning "ranch for raising cattle" is attested from 1927.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

Spread

1. The difference between the bid and the ask price of a security or asset.

2. An options position established by purchasing one option and selling another option of the same class but of a different series.

Investopedia Commentary

1. The spread for an asset is influenced by a number of factors:

a) Supply or "float" (the total number of shares outstanding that are available to trade)
b) Demand or interest in a stock
c) Total trading activity of the stock

2. For a stock option, the spread would be the difference between the strike price and the market value.

Related Links

The Nitty-Gritty Of Executing A Trade
Trading The QQQQ With In-The-Money Put Spreads
Out-of-the-Money Put Time Spreads

See also: Ask, Bear Spread, Best Ask, Best Bid, Bid, Bull Spread, Butterfly Spread, Float, Haircut, Market Value, Option, Slippage, Strike Price

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
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Financial Dictionary

spread

  1. A position taken in two or more options or futures contracts to profit through a change in the relative price relationships. Purchasing an option to expire in October and selling an option on the same asset expiring three months earlier is one example of a spread.

  2. The difference in price between two futures contracts that are identical except for delivery date.

  3. The difference between the bid and ask prices for a particular security. A large spread often indicates inactive trading of the security. Also called markup. See also effective spread, gross spread, narrow the spread.

  4. The difference in yields between two fixed-income securities. See also basis point.


Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: lay
past of LIE

Main Entry: spread
Function: noun
1 a : the difference between any two prices for similar articles spread between the list price and the market price of an article> b : the difference between the highest and lowest prices of a product or security for a given period c : the difference between bid and asked prices (as of a stock)
2 a : a simultaneous put option and call option in which the put price and the call price differ so that no profit is made unless the price falls below or rises above the put or call price respectively by more than enough to cover the cost of the option; also : the difference between the put price and call price b : a transaction in which a participant hedges with simultaneous long and short options in different commodities or different delivery dates in the same commodity
3 : an arbitrage transaction operated by buying and selling simultaneously in two markets when there is an abnormal difference in price between the two markets; also : the difference in price
4 : the difference between the yields on investments in fixed-income securities equal in quality but with different maturity dates or with the same maturity dates but unequal quality
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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