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spreading - 3 dictionary results

spread

  [spred] verb, spread, spread⋅ing, noun, adjective
Use spreading 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To spreading
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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spreading

The establishment of a long position in an option and a short position in another option of the same class but with a different strike price or expiration date, or both. Spreading is supposed to achieve profit from a difference in relative price movements of two options of the same class.

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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