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span
1[ span ]
noun
- the distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully extended.
- a unit of length corresponding to this distance, commonly taken as 9 inches (23 centimeters).
- a distance, amount, piece, etc., of this length or of some small extent:
a span of lace.
- Civil Engineering, Architecture.
- the distance between two supports of a structure.
- the structure so supported.
- the distance or space between two supports of a bridge.
- the full extent, stretch, or reach of anything:
a long span of memory.
- Aeronautics. the distance between the wing tips of an airplane.
- a limited space of time, as the term or period of living:
Our span on earth is short.
- Mathematics. the smallest subspace of a vector space that contains a given element or set of elements.
verb (used with object)
- to measure by the hand with the thumb and little finger extended.
- to encircle with the hand or hands, as the waist.
- to extend over or across (a section of land, a river, etc.).
- to provide with something that extends over:
to span a river with a bridge.
- to extend or reach over (space or time):
a memory that spans 90 years.
- Mathematics. to function (in a subspace of a vector space) as a span.
- Archery. to bend (the bow) in preparation for shooting.
span
2[ span ]
noun
- a pair of horses or other animals harnessed and driven together.
Synonyms:
span
3[ span ]
verb
- a simple past tense of spin.
Span.
4abbreviation for
- Spaniard.
- Spanish.
Span.
1abbreviation for
- Spanish
span
2/ æ /
noun
- the interval, space, or distance between two points, such as the ends of a bridge or arch
- the complete duration or extent
the span of his life
- psychol the amount of material that can be processed in a single mental act
span of attention
apprehension span
- short for wingspan
- a unit of length based on the width of an expanded hand, usually taken as nine inches
verb
- to stretch or extend across, over, or around
- to provide with something that extends across or around
to span a river with a bridge
- to measure or cover, esp with the extended hand
span
3/ æ /
noun
- a team of horses or oxen, esp two matched animals
span
4/ æ /
verb
- archaic.a past tense of spin
Word History and Origins
Origin of span1
Origin of span2
Word History and Origins
Origin of span1
Origin of span2
Idioms and Phrases
see spick and span .Synonym Study
Example Sentences
The outbreak — which killed one person and sickened at least 88 more — was linked to romaine lettuce and spanned at least 15 states, including Missouri and Indiana.
The young trout span roughly one inch and, as Evans put it, aren’t too bright.
According to the California Highway Patrol, officers were called to the westbound span of the 10 Freeway just east of Central Avenue at about 5:25 a.m.
In archaeology, the hills made up of the ruins of successive eras — often many yards deep and spanning centuries or even millennia — are called “tells.”
Since its debut in 2017, “The Chosen” has developed a devoted fan base and spanned five seasons so far.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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