spread eagle

See synonyms for spread eagle on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a representation of an eagle with outspread wings: used as an emblem of the U.S.

  2. an acrobatic figure in skating performed by making a glide with the skates touching heel-to-heel in a straight line and with the arms outstretched.

  1. an acrobatic stunt in ski jumping executed with the legs and arms widely outstretched to the sides.

Origin of spread eagle

1
First recorded in 1560–70

Words Nearby spread eagle

Other definitions for spread-eagle (2 of 2)

spread-eagle
[ spred-ee-guhl ]

adjective
  1. having or suggesting the form of a spread eagle.

  2. lying prone with arms and legs outstretched.

  1. boastful or bombastic, especially in the display of patriotic or nationalistic pride in the U.S.

verb (used with object),spread-ea·gled, spread-ea·gling.
  1. to stretch out (something) in the manner of a spread eagle.

verb (used without object),spread-ea·gled, spread-ea·gling.
  1. to assume the position or perform the acrobatic figure of a spread eagle: The skater spread-eagled across the rink.

Origin of spread-eagle

2
First recorded in 1820–30

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use spread eagle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spread eagle (1 of 2)

spread eagle

noun
  1. the representation of an eagle with outstretched wings, used as an emblem of the US

  2. an acrobatic skating figure

British Dictionary definitions for spread-eagle (2 of 2)

spread-eagle

adjectiveAlso: spread-eagled
  1. lying or standing with arms and legs outstretched

verb
  1. to assume or cause to assume the shape of a spread eagle

  2. (intr) skating to execute a spread eagle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012