a)SPREADif a group of people spread out, they move apart from each other so that they cover a wider area 〔一群人〕散开,分散
The search party spread out to search the surrounding fields.
搜索队员四散开来搜查周围的田野。
b)spread something ↔ outSPREAD to open something out or arrange a group of things on a flatsurface 打开,摊开,展开
Sue spread out her notes on the kitchen table and began to write.
休把笔记本摊开放在厨房桌子上,开始写了起来。
c)SPREAD (also be spread out) to cover a large area 伸展,延伸
The city spread out below her looked so calm.
城市在她下方绵延开来,看起来如此宁静。
d)OVER TIME 分散于一段时间内spread something ↔ outSLOW to do something over a period of time, rather than at one time 将…分散〔在一段时间内〕
spread something ↔ out over
The course is spread out over four days.
这门课程分四天进行。
Examples from the Corpus
spread out• I'm sure you'd be more comfortable if you spread yourselves out a little.• Several small cabins were spread out across the property.• Diane had her newspaperspread out all over the floor.• Members of the tribe are spread out over hundreds of squaremiles.
spread over• They could write off all investments in the year they are made rather than spreading them out over a period of years.• Graham untied the knot in the documenttape and spread the papers out over his desk.