span
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to stretch across a distance from one side to the other.
v.to extend across the distance between two points or supports; used transitively with a direct object.
Simple“The new bridge will span the river, connecting the two small towns for the first time.”
In context“The massive suspension bridge spans the Golden Gate strait, enduring extreme winds and tidal currents while facilitating thousands of daily commutes.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to last for a specific period of time.
v.to extend through or cover a specific duration or historical period.
Simple“Her career as a teacher spanned forty years and three different schools.”
In context“The professor's research spans several decades, documenting the gradual shift in local dialects from the post-war era to the digital age.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the amount of time that something lasts.
n.the full extent or duration of a period, especially regarding a human life or attention.
Simple“The average life span of a domestic cat is about fifteen years.”
In context“Modern digital interfaces are often criticised for reducing the average attention span of younger users who are accustomed to rapid content switching.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
n.the distance between two supports of a structure, like a bridge or a roof.
n.the distance or extent between the abutments or supports of an arch, beam, or bridge.
Simple“The central span of the bridge is the longest part of the structure.”
In context“Engineers had to calculate the maximum load for the sixty-metre span to ensure the roof would not collapse under heavy snowfall.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the distance from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other.
n.the maximum extent across the wings of a bird or aircraft.
Simple“The eagle has a very wide span, which helps it glide for long distances.”
In context“The aircraft's impressive wing span allows for greater lift at lower speeds, though it complicates hangar storage at smaller regional airports.”
- 06 C2 Proficiency
n.the distance from the end of your thumb to the end of your little finger when your hand is open wide.
n.an informal unit of linear measure based on the distance between the tips of the thumb and the little finger of an outstretched hand.
Simple“In the old days, people used the span of their hand to measure small objects.”
In context“The carpenter estimated the width of the timber using a span, a traditional method that predates the standardisation of the metric system.”
Synonymshandspan - 07 C2 Proficiency
n.in math, all the points you can reach by combining a set of directions.
n.the set of all possible linear combinations of a given set of vectors.
Simple“The teacher asked us to find the span of the two vectors on the graph.”
In context“In linear algebra, determining whether a specific vector lies within the span of a given set is fundamental to solving systems of equations.”
Synonymslinear span
Usage span period
“His career spans more than three decades and he is known for taking on unconventional and physically demanding roles.”
“Books have never been trendier , but studies show that as more and more things compete for our frazzled attention spans, we’re reading less and less.”