span

/spæn/ · noun

Meaning

The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; an eighth of a fathom.
(by extension) A small space or a brief portion of time.
A portion of something by length; a subsequence.
The spread or extent of an arch or between its abutments, or of a beam, girder, truss, roof, bridge, or the like, between supports.
The length of a cable, wire, rope, chain between two consecutive supports.
A rope having its ends made fast so that a purchase can be hooked to the bight; also, a rope made fast in the center so that both ends can be used.
To extend through the distance between or across.
To extend through (a time period).
To measure by the span of the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers encompassing the object.
To generate an entire space by means of linear combinations.
To be matched, as horses.
To fetter, as a horse; to hobble.
To rotate, revolve, gyrate (usually quickly); to partially or completely rotate to face another direction.
To make yarn by twisting and winding fibers together.
To present, describe, or interpret, or to introduce a bias or slant, so as to give something a favorable or advantageous appearance.
(of a bowler) To make the ball move sideways when it bounces on the pitch.
(of a ball) To move sideways when bouncing.
To form into thin strips or ribbons, as with sugar

No prose etymology has been added yet.

No ancestor words have been linked yet.

No descendant words have been linked yet.