1 [I,T] to affect a larger area or a bigger group of people; to make sth do this （使）传播，蔓延: The fire spread rapidly because of the strong wind. 火势因强风而迅速蔓延。Rats and flies spread disease. 老鼠和苍蝇会传播疾病。 [T] to spread rumours about sb 散布关于某人的谣言

2 [T] spread sth (out) (on/over sth) to open sth that has been folded so that it covers a larger area; to move things so that they cover a larger area 摊开；展开: Spread the map out on the table so we can all see it! 把地图摊开在桌子上，好让我们都可以看到！

3 [T] spread A on/over B;spread B with A to cover a surface with a layer of a soft substance 涂；敷: to spread jam on bread 把果酱涂在面包上to spread bread with jam 在面包上涂果酱

4 [T] spread sth (out) (over sth) to separate sth into parts and divide them between different times or people 使分期或分批进行: You can spread your repayments over a period of three years. 你可以在三年内分期还款。