Outspread

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Extended or stretched out widely in all directions from a central point
2. Stretched out broadly from a center across a large area
3. Spread out extensively in every direction from a specific point

Etymology: "Outspread" is a plain compound: the prefix "out-" added to "spread," meaning "to stretch or open up." The "out-" here carries its sense of extending away from a center, so the combined word describes something opened or stretched broadly from a central point across an open area, such as wings or branches. It came into English from Middle English "outspreden," which joined the same two elements. The word has close relatives in the other Germanic languages of northern Europe, which suggests the same pairing of "out" and "spread" was made independently in several places. Dutch has "uitspreiden," meaning to stretch or unfold, Danish has "udsprede," and Swedish has "utspridda," all carrying the same sense of extending outward.

Synonyms: extended, stretched, spread out, expanded, dispersed

Antonyms: contracted, compressed