51Թ

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View synonyms for

span

1

[span]

noun

  1. the distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully extended.

  2. a unit of length corresponding to this distance, commonly taken as 9 inches (23 centimeters).

  3. a distance, amount, piece, etc., of this length or of some small extent.

    a span of lace.

  4. Civil Engineering, Architecture.

    1. the distance between two supports of a structure.

    2. the structure so supported.

    3. the distance or space between two supports of a bridge.

  5. the full extent, stretch, or reach of anything.

    a long span of memory.

  6. Aeronautics.the distance between the wing tips of an airplane.

  7. a limited space of time, as the term or period of living.

    Our span on earth is short.

  8. Mathematics.the smallest subspace of a vector space that contains a given element or set of elements.



verb (used with object)

spanned, spanning 
  1. to measure by the hand with the thumb and little finger extended.

  2. to encircle with the hand or hands, as the waist.

  3. to extend over or across (a section of land, a river, etc.).

  4. to provide with something that extends over.

    to span a river with a bridge.

  5. to extend or reach over (space or time).

    a memory that spans 90 years.

  6. Mathematics.to function (in a subspace of a vector space) as a span.

  7. Archery.to bend (the bow) in preparation for shooting.

span

2

[span]

noun

  1. a pair of horses or other animals harnessed and driven together.

    Synonyms:

span

3

[span]

verb

Archaic.
  1. a simple past tense of spin.

Span.

4

abbreviation

  1. Spaniard.

  2. Spanish.

span

1

/ æ /

noun

  1. the interval, space, or distance between two points, such as the ends of a bridge or arch

  2. the complete duration or extent

    the span of his life

  3. psychol the amount of material that can be processed in a single mental act

    apprehension span

    span of attention

  4. short for wingspan

  5. a unit of length based on the width of an expanded hand, usually taken as nine inches

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to stretch or extend across, over, or around

  2. to provide with something that extends across or around

    to span a river with a bridge

  3. to measure or cover, esp with the extended hand

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Span.

2

abbreviation

  1. Spanish

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

span

3

/ æ /

noun

  1. a team of horses or oxen, esp two matched animals

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

span

4

/ æ /

verb

  1. archaica past tense of spin

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of span1

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun spanne, sponne, spayn, Old English span(n), spon(n); cognate with German Spanne, Dutch span, Old Norse ǫԲ; the verb is derivative of the noun

Origin of span2

An Americanism dating to 1760–70; from Dutch: “team (of oxen, horses)”
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of span1

Old English spann; related to Old Norse sponn, Old High German spanna

Origin of span2

C16 (in the sense: yoke): from Middle Dutch: something stretched, from spannen to stretch; see span 1
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Idioms and Phrases

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Synonym Study

See pair.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Still, the group clung to every sign that Wilson would improve—that the distant gaze would leave his eyes and that his concentration span would lengthen.

From

In the span of just a few hours Tuesday, unverified messages posted online rapidly spread warnings about ICE agents being spotted near schools, hotels and hardware stores, leading to panic and disruption.

From

The challenge spans 21 days and see the group stop in over a dozen towns and cities before reaching their final destination in Somerset on 24 June.

From

Dyer, now 67 years old and for a decade a USC professor, is a cosmopolitan author whose output — fiction, nonfiction, both — has often spanned far-flung locales.

From

Ranging in age from 50 to 90, spanning the spectrum of swift strides to wheelchairs, they are the most courageous athletes I’ve met.

From

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ˈ貹Բspanakopita