Spred vs. Spread: The Correct Spellings

There are indeed other forms of this word, including "spreads" (third person singular verb or plural noun) and "spreading" (present participle).

To remember the correct spelling of "spread," one can recall common words with similar endings, such as "bread" or "thread." These examples can serve as reminders of the correct "ead" combination in "spread."

In the debate between spred and spread, the latter is the correct form. Spread can be used as both a verb, indicating the act of stretching or distributing something, and as a noun, often referring to a range or extent. On the other hand, spred is an incorrect spelling not recognized in standard English dictionaries.

The word "spread" has its origins in Old English, with the word "sprǣdan," meaning to extend, stretch out, or lay out.

Incorrect: She spred the blanket out on the beach.

Correct: She spread the blanket out on the beach.

Incorrect: Butter is easier to spred when it's soft.

Correct: Butter is easier to spread when it's soft.

Incorrect: The news spred quickly through the town.

Correct: The news spread quickly through the town.

Incorrect: The fire spred to the neighboring buildings.

Correct: The fire spread to the neighboring buildings.

Incorrect: The disease spred rapidly in the crowded conditions.

Correct: The disease spread rapidly in the crowded conditions.

Spread means to open or stretch out something over a surface or area.

Spread implies the growth or increase in an area or volume.

Spread can denote a range or variety of something.

Spread can refer to the distribution or dispersal of something over an area or among people.

Spread, when used as a noun, can refer to a large meal or feast.

To open to a fuller extent or width; stretch

To make wider the gap between; move farther apart

To distribute over a surface in a layer

To cover with a layer

To distribute widely

To make a wide or extensive arrangement of

To exhibit or display the full extent of

To cause to become widely seen or known; scatter or disseminate

To prepare (a table) for eating; set.

To arrange (food or a meal) on a table.

To flatten (a rivet end, for example) by pounding.

To be extended or enlarged

To move over an area, be distributed, or be widely dispersed

To become known or prevalent over a wide area

To be exhibited, displayed, or visible in broad or full extent

To become or admit of being distributed in a layer

To become separated; be forced farther apart

The act or process of spreading

Dissemination, as of news; diffusion.

An open area of land; an expanse.

A ranch, farm, or estate.

The extent or limit to which something is or can be spread

A cloth covering for a bed, table, or other piece of furniture.

(Informal) An abundant meal laid out on a table.

A food to be spread on bread or crackers.

Two facing pages of a magazine, newspaper, or book, considered as a unit.

An article or advertisement running across two or more columns of a newspaper or magazine.

A difference, as between two figures or totals

A position taken in two or more options or futures contracts in order to profit from a change in their relative prices.

The difference between the price asked and bid for a particular security.

The difference in yields between two fixed-income securities, as between short-term and long-term bonds.

A number of points offered to equalize the chances of winning in a wager on a competition, usually between sports teams. Also called point spread.

Wingspread.

(transitive) To stretch out, open out (a material etc.) so that it more fully covers a given area of space.

(transitive) To extend (individual rays, limbs etc.); to stretch out in varying or opposing directions.

(transitive) To disperse, to scatter or distribute over a given area.

(intransitive) To proliferate; to become more widely present, to be disseminated.

(transitive) To disseminate; to cause to proliferate, to make (something) widely known or present.

(intransitive) To take up a larger area or space; to expand, be extended.

(transitive) To smear, to distribute in a thin layer.

(transitive) To cover (something) with a thin layer of some substance, as of butter.

To prepare; to set and furnish with provisions.

To open one’s legs, especially for sexual favours.

The act of spreading.

Something that has been spread.

(cartomancy) A layout, pattern or design of cards arranged for a reading.

An expanse of land.

A large tract of land used to raise livestock; a cattle ranch.

A piece of material used as a cover (such as a bedspread).

A large meal, especially one laid out on a table.

(bread, etc.) Any form of food designed to be spread, such as butters or jams.

(military) A set of multiple torpedoes launched on side-by-side, slowly-diverging paths toward one or more enemy ships.

improvised by inmates from various ingredients to relieve the tedium of prison food.

An item in a newspaper or magazine that occupies more than one column or page.

Two facing pages in a book, newspaper etc.

A numerical difference.

The difference between the wholesale and retail prices.

The difference between the price of a futures month and the price of another month of the same commodity.

The purchase of a futures contract of one delivery month against the sale of another futures delivery month of the same commodity.

The purchase of one delivery month of one commodity against the sale of that same delivery month of a different commodity.

(trading) An arbitrage transaction of the same commodity in two markets, executed to take advantage of a profit from price discrepancies.

(trading) The difference between bidding and asking price.

(finance) The difference between the prices of two similar items.

(geometry) An unlimited expanse of discontinuous points.

The surface in proportion to the depth of a cut gemstone.

Excessive width of the trails of ink written on overly absorbent paper.

To extend in length and breadth, or in breadth only; to stretch or expand to a broad or broader surface or extent; to open; to unfurl; as, to spread a carpet; to spread a tent or a sail.

To extend so as to cover something; to extend to a great or greater extent in every direction; to cause to fill or cover a wide or wider space.

To divulge; to publish, as news or fame; to cause to be more extensively known; to disseminate; to make known fully; as, to spread a report; - often accompanied by abroad.

To propagate; to cause to affect great numbers; as, to spread a disease.

To diffuse, as emanations or effluvia; to emit; as, odoriferous plants spread their fragrance.

To strew; to scatter over a surface; as, to spread manure; to spread lime on the ground.

To prepare; to set and furnish with provisions; as, to spread a table.

To extend in length and breadth in all directions, or in breadth only; to be extended or stretched; to expand.

To be extended by drawing or beating; as, some metals spread with difficulty.

To be made known more extensively, as news.

To be propagated from one to another; as, the disease spread into all parts of the city.

Extent; compass.

Expansion of parts.

A cloth used as a cover for a table or a bed.

A table, as spread or furnished with a meal; hence, an entertainment of food; a feast.

A privilege which one person buys of another, of demanding certain shares of stock at a certain price, or of delivering the same shares of stock at another price, within a time agreed upon.

An unlimited expanse of discontinuous points.

An arbitrage transaction operated by buying and selling simultaneously in two separate markets, as Chicago and New York, when there is an abnormal difference in price between the two markets. It is called a back spreadwhen the difference in price is less than the normal one.

Surface in proportion to the depth of a cut stone.

process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space

a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures;

farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)

a haphazard distribution in all directions

a tasty mixture to be spread on bread or crackers

a meal that is well prepared and greatly enjoyed;

two facing pages of a book or other publication

the expansion of a person's girth (especially at middle age);

decorative cover for a bed

act of extending over a wider scope or expanse of space or time

distribute or disperse widely;

become distributed or widespread;

spread across or over;

spread out or open from a closed or folded state;

cause to become widely known;

become widely known and passed on;

strew or distribute over an area;

move outward;

cover by spreading something over;

distribute over a surface in a layer;

distributed or spread over a considerable extent;

prepared or arranged for a meal; especially having food set out;

fully extended in width;

The map was spread out on the table for everyone to see.

The rumor spread like wildfire among the students.

She spread the jam evenly on the toast.

The artist spread the paint with a palette knife.

The infection can spread if precautions are not taken.

She spread her arms wide in a welcoming gesture.

Awareness about the cause spread across the community.

The branches of the tree spread wide, offering shade.

News of the victory spread throughout the country.

Information about the event spread through social media.

The farmer spread fertilizer across the fields.

The disease spread through water contamination.

The sunlight spread across the valley at dawn.

The virus can spread from person to person.

The cream is easier to spread at room temperature.

The influence of the culture spread across many countries.

The wildfire spread due to the dry conditions.

The table was spread with all kinds of delicious food.

The practice spread from one community to another.

The dye spread through the fabric, creating a beautiful pattern.

The scent of flowers spread through the open window.

The blanket was spread on the ground for the picnic.

The city spread out below us from the hilltop view.

The bird spread its wings and took flight.

The celebration spread joy among the townspeople.

To rapidly expand or proliferate, similar to how a wildfire uncontrollably spreads.

To inform many people about something; to disseminate information.

To share positive feelings or actions with many people.

To distribute resources or benefits evenly within a group.

To try to do too many things at once, resulting in none of them being done well.

To consider a wide range of possibilities or options.

To expand one's horizons or try new things, especially after being limited or restricted.

In basketball, to position players widely to create more space for offensive play.

To prepare and set out a meal on a table.

To allocate your energy or resources across multiple tasks or areas.

To exaggerate or overemphasize something, often flattery or a lie.

To explore or investigate broadly in search of something or someone.

To distribute potential risks among different options to minimize the impact of any single failure.

Similar to spreading the risk, it involves placing bets on multiple outcomes to increase the chances of winning.

To prepare a large and elaborate meal for guests.

To preach or share religious beliefs with others.

A position with arms and legs stretched out widely, often used to describe a posture or a method of restraint.

To cause joy and positive feelings to proliferate among a group of people.

To disseminate information or news to a wide audience.

To unfurl the sails of a ship, preparing for movement; metaphorically, to get ready to move forward or take action.

No, spred is not a recognized spelling in standard English. The correct form is "spread."

The term "spread" originates from Old English with the word "sprǣdan," which means to extend or stretch out.

Yes, in finance, a "spread" can refer to the difference between buying and selling prices or between two interest rates.

The confusion might arise due to the phonetic similarity between "ed" and "ead" endings in English. However, "spread" follows the "ead" pattern, like "bread" or "thread."

"Spread" can denote a range, a meal, or even the difference between two amounts, such as in financial contexts.

Remembering similar words, such as "bread" and "thread," can help remind you of the correct "ead" spelling pattern in "spread."

Yes, words like "distribute," "extend," and "disperse" can carry similar meanings, depending on the context.

No, "spread" has various meanings, including distribution, growth, range, and even referring to a large meal.

Spread is pronounced as /sprɛd/, rhyming with "bread."

Yes, phrases like "spread oneself thin" or "spread the word" are idiomatic expressions using the word "spread."