Spreads

Synonyms for spread
noun expansion, development; extent

advance
escalation
transmission
spreading
advancement
dissemination
increase

diffusion
profusion
term
proliferation
span
extension
stretch

reach
radiation
sweep
expanse
dispersion
enlargement
range

ramification
compass
scope
period
transfusion
suffusion

Antonyms for spreads

halt
extreme
abridgment

compression
decrease
reduction

stagnation
suppression
stop

Synonyms
noun outlay of food, meal

repast
blowout

feast
dinner

regale
array

banquet
lunch

Antonyms

stagnation

suppression

Synonyms
verb open or fan out

proliferate
set
develop
extend
stretch
cover
lay
flow
increase
escalate
spray
disperse
multiply
reach
expand

circulate
unwind
widen
unfold
broaden
lengthen
unfurl
daub
flatten
radiate
array
open
sprawl
prepare
dilate

strew
gloss
enlarge
diverge
paint
unroll
pervade
mushroom
lie
swell
bloat
diffuse
arrange
suffuse
level

smear
overlay
cast
settle
coat
branch off
outstretch
untwist
uncoil
be displayed
be distributed
even out
roll out

Antonyms

decrease
compress
lessen
abridge
shorten
narrow
restrict
hide
block

straighten
disorganize
shrivel
mix up
conceal
end
halt
contract
lower

shrink
diminish
lose
collect
gather
reduce
reveal
confuse
close

Synonyms
verb publicize

disseminate
distribute
propagate
transmit
scatter
circulate

shed
blazon
publish
declare
broadcast
cast

promulgate
sow
radiate
advertise
proclaim
strew

diffuse
make known
make public

Antonyms

hide
conceal

compress
collect

gather
close

Usage Notes

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.