spreader

[ spred-er ]

noun

1. a person or thing that spreads.
2. a small, dull knife or spatula used for spreading butter, jelly, etc., on bread.
3. a machine for dispersing bulk material:

   manure spreader.

4. a device for spacing or keeping apart two objects, as electric wires.
5. Nautical. a strut for spreading shrouds on a mast.

ˈspreader

/ ˈsprɛdə /

noun

1. a machine or device used for scattering bulk materials, esp manure or fertilizer, over a relatively wide area
2. a device for keeping apart or spacing parallel objects, such as electric wires

Other Words From

• anti·spreader noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spreader¹

First recorded in 1475–85; spread + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is a prolific spreader and amplifier of misinformation on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, a new report alleges.

From Salon

They included a research initiative as well as a tree-planting project and programmes aimed at supporting farmers and slurry spreaders.

From BBC

The case calls into question the future of a company that was a key online supporter of Trump and spreader of conspiracy theories.

From Seattle Times

The main spreader of the West Nile virus in California is the culex mosquito, which becomes infected with the virus by feeding on the blood of infected birds.

From Los Angeles Times

Whether that kind of intervention works will depend on how motivated these misinformation spreaders are.

From Science Magazine