spread
n. countablen. the difference between two amounts, such as the buying and selling price of a stock. It can also mean how much something has grown or moved across an area.
n. the difference between two prices, rates, or yields; also the extent or distribution of something over an area.
The bank makes money from the spread between interest rates.
Investors often look for a narrow spread because it means the market for that stock is very active.
While the nominal price remained stable, the widening spread between the bid and ask suggested that liquidity was drying up ahead of the central bank's announcement.
From Middle English spreden, from Old English sprǣdan (“to spread, expand”), from Proto-Germanic spraidijaną (“to spread”), from Proto-Indo-European (s)per- (“to strew, sow, sprinkle”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian spreede (“to spread”), West Frisian spriede (“to spread”), North Frisian spriedjen (“to spread”), Dutch spreiden (“to spread”), Low German spreden (“to spread”), German spreiten (“to spread, spread out”), Danish sprede (“to spread”), Norwegian spre, spreie (“to spread, disseminate”), Swedish sprida (“to spread”), Latin spernō, spargō, Ancient Greek σπείρω (speírō), Persian سپردن (sepordan, “to deposit”), English spurn.
Blend of speed + read.
Commonly used with 'between' to indicate the two values being compared.
- 01
secretary spread
The apparent widening of the hips and buttocks, as seen when a voluptuous woman sits on a chair.
- 02
spark spread
The difference between the cost of the fuel required to produce a unit of electricity, and the price of that same unit of electricity.
- 03
spread one's legs
Synonym of put out (consent to having sex).