span

¹

[ span ]

noun

1. the distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully extended.
2. a unit of length corresponding to this distance, commonly taken as 9 inches (23 centimeters).
3. a distance, amount, piece, etc., of this length or of some small extent:

   a span of lace.

4. Civil Engineering, Architecture.
   1. the distance between two supports of a structure.
   2. the structure so supported.
   3. the distance or space between two supports of a bridge.
5. the full extent, stretch, or reach of anything:

   a long span of memory.

6. Aeronautics. the distance between the wing tips of an airplane.
7. a limited space of time, as the term or period of living:

   Our span on earth is short.

8. Mathematics. the smallest subspace of a vector space that contains a given element or set of elements.

verb (used with object)

, spanned, span·ning.

1. to measure by the hand with the thumb and little finger extended.
2. to encircle with the hand or hands, as the waist.
3. to extend over or across (a section of land, a river, etc.).
4. to provide with something that extends over:

   to span a river with a bridge.

5. to extend or reach over (space or time):

   a memory that spans 90 years.

6. Mathematics. to function (in a subspace of a vector space) as a span.
7. Archery. to bend (the bow) in preparation for shooting.

span

²

[ span ]

noun

1. a pair of horses or other animals harnessed and driven together.

   Synonyms: team

span

³

[ span ]

verb

, Archaic.

1. a simple past tense of spin.

Span.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. Spaniard.
2. Spanish.

span

¹

/ spæn /

verb

1. archaic.
   a past tense of spin

Span.

²

abbreviation for

1. Spanish

span

³

/ spæn /

noun

1. the interval, space, or distance between two points, such as the ends of a bridge or arch
2. the complete duration or extent

   the span of his life

3. psychol the amount of material that can be processed in a single mental act

   span of attention

   apprehension span

4. short for wingspan
5. a unit of length based on the width of an expanded hand, usually taken as nine inches

verb

1. to stretch or extend across, over, or around
2. to provide with something that extends across or around

   to span a river with a bridge

3. to measure or cover, esp with the extended hand

span

⁴

/ spæn /

noun

1. a team of horses or oxen, esp two matched animals

Word History and Origins

Origin of span¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun spanne, sponne, spayn, Old English span(n), spon(n); cognate with German Spanne, Dutch span, Old Norse spǫnn; the verb is derivative of the noun

Origin of span²

An Americanism dating to 1760–70; from Dutch: “team (of oxen, horses)”

Word History and Origins

Origin of span¹

Old English spann; related to Old Norse sponn, Old High German spanna

Origin of span²

C16 (in the sense: yoke): from Middle Dutch: something stretched, from spannen to stretch; see span ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see spick and span .

Synonym Study

See pair.

Example Sentences

But these changes present a huge challenge in a sugar supply chain spanning more than 100 countries and the millions of people that depend on sugar's income.

From Salon

This finding suggests that single cells process and remember information over different time spans.

From Science Daily

Casting director Juliet Taylor received an honorary Oscar for a career spanning five decades.

From Los Angeles Times

Patnaik said the health risks of air pollution and climate change span a wide range of outcomes including infectious disease, weather-related morbidity and a variety of lung, kidney and cardiovascular maladies.

From Science Daily

Alongside the lies and conspiracy theories, Jones used Infowars to sell millions of dollars’ worth of merchandise such as DVDs and T-shirts, building a media empire that spanned the web, radio and subscription video.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• connect
• cover
• cross
• extend
• traverse