Expand vs. Spread — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 24, 2024
Expand involves becoming larger in size, scope, or extent, while spread refers to extending over a wider area or among a larger number of people.
Difference Between Expand and Spread
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Expand is typically used when something increases in size, volume, or quantity, either physically or figuratively. On the other hand, spread is more about the distribution or dissemination of something across a space or among individuals.
Expand often connotes growth and enlargement from a central point. Whereas, spread implies a movement outward, often covering a surface or reaching new areas.
In business, to expand might mean opening new branches or increasing the range of products offered. Whereas, to spread could refer to the distribution of products across different markets or regions.
When discussing ideas or information, expand means to develop or elaborate on something in greater detail. On the other hand, spread refers to how information is circulated among people.
In terms of physical space, expand could mean the swelling of materials or the extension of structures. While, spread is used to describe how substances like butter or paint cover a surface.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To become larger or more extensive.
To extend over a broader area or range.
Usage in context
Growth, increase in size.
Distribution, dissemination.
Example in business
A company expands by increasing its workforce.
A brand spreads its market reach.
Example in physical
A balloon expands when filled with air.
Jam spreads evenly over toast.
Example in information
Ideas expand through detailed discussion.
News spreads through social media.
Compare with Definitions
Expand
To elaborate or expound upon.
The teacher asked the student to expand on their argument.
Spread
To become widely known or prevalent.
The news about the CEO's resignation spread quickly.
Expand
To increase in size or volume.
The company plans to expand its operations next year.
Spread
To distribute over an area.
She spread the documents out on the table for review.
Expand
To extend the scope or breadth.
The museum expanded its collection of modern art.
Spread
To apply a layer on a surface.
He spread butter on his morning toast.
Expand
To spread out or open up.
The fan expands to cool a larger area.
Spread
To extend over a period or among a group.
The festival spreads over three days.
Expand
To increase the extent of something.
The software has expanded its features in the latest update.
Spread
To scatter or disperse.
The seeds spread across the field by the wind.
Expand
To increase the size, volume, quantity, or scope of; enlarge
Expanded her store by adding a second room.
Spread
Open out (something) so as to extend its surface area, width, or length
She helped Colin to spread out the map
I spread a towel on the sand and sat down
Expand
To express at length or in detail; enlarge on
Expanded his remarks afterward.
Spread
Extend over a large or increasing area
Rain over north-west Scotland will spread south-east during the day
Expand
To open (something) up or out; spread out
The bird expanded its wings and flew off.
Spread
Apply (a substance) to an object or surface in an even layer
He sighed, spreading jam on a croissant
Expand
(Mathematics) To write (a quantity) as a sum of terms in an extended form.
Spread
Lay (a table) for a meal.
Expand
To become greater in size, volume, quantity, or scope
Air expands when heated. This critic's influence is expanding.
Spread
The fact or process of spreading over an area
The spread of the urban population into rural areas
Warmer temperatures could help reduce the spread of the disease
Expand
To speak or write at length or in detail
Expand on a favorite topic.
Spread
The extent, width, or area covered by something
The male's antlers can attain a spread of six feet
Expand
To open up or out; unfold
The chair expands to form a daybed.
Spread
The range or variety of something
A wide spread of ages
Expand
(transitive) To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open.
You can expand this compact umbrella to cover a large table.
Spread
A soft paste that can be applied in a layer to bread or other food
Cheese spread
Low-fat spreads
Expand
(transitive) To increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something).
A flower expands its leaves.
Spread
An article or advertisement covering several columns or pages of a newspaper or magazine, especially one on two facing pages
A double-page spread
Expand
(transitive) To express (something) at length and/or in detail.
Spread
A large and impressively elaborate meal
His mother laid on a huge spread
Expand
To rewrite (an expression) as a longer, yet equivalent sum of terms.
Use the binomial theorem to expand .
Spread
A bedspread
A patchwork spread
Expand
To become, by rewriting, a longer, yet equivalent sum of terms.
The expression expands to .
Spread
To open to a fuller extent or width; stretch
Spread out the tablecloth.
A bird spreading its wings.
Expand
To multiply both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same natural number yielding a fraction of equal value
Spread
To make wider the gap between; move farther apart
Spread her fingers.
Expand
(intransitive) To change or grow from smaller to larger in form, number, or size.
Many materials expand when heated.
This compact umbrella expands to cover a large table.
Spread
To distribute over a surface in a layer
Spread varnish on the steps.
Expand
(intransitive) To increase in extent, number, volume or scope.
Spread
To cover with a layer
Spread a cracker with butter.
Expand
(intransitive) To speak or write at length or in detail.
He expanded on his plans for the business.
Spread
To distribute widely
The tornado spread destruction.
Expand
(intransitive) To feel generous or optimistic.
Spread
To make a wide or extensive arrangement of
We spread the bicycle parts out on the floor.
Expand
To lay open by extending; to open wide; to spread out; to diffuse; as, a flower expands its leaves.
Then with expanded wings he steers his flight.
Spread
To exhibit or display the full extent of
The scene that was spread before us.
Expand
To cause the particles or parts of to spread themselves or stand apart, thus increasing bulk without addition of substance; to make to occupy more space; to dilate; to distend; to extend every way; to enlarge; - opposed to contract; as, to expand the chest; heat expands all bodies; to expand the sphere of benevolence.
Spread
To cause to become widely seen or known; scatter or disseminate
Spread the news.
Spread the beam of the flashlight.
Expand
To state in enlarged form; to develop; as, to expand an equation. See Expansion, 5.
Spread
To prepare (a table) for eating; set.
Expand
To become widely opened, spread apart, dilated, distended, or enlarged; as, flowers expand in the spring; metals expand by heat; the heart expands with joy.
Spread
To arrange (food or a meal) on a table.
Expand
Extend in one or more directions;
The dough expands
Spread
To flatten (a rivet end, for example) by pounding.
Expand
Become larger in size or volume or quantity;
His business expanded rapidly
Spread
To be extended or enlarged
The farm fields spread to the horizon.
Expand
Make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity;
Expand the house by adding another wing
Spread
To move over an area, be distributed, or be widely dispersed
The troops spread out across the field. The volcano's ash spread over the continent.
Expand
Grow stronger;
The economy was booming
Spread
To become known or prevalent over a wide area
The word spread fast.
Expand
Exaggerate or make bigger;
The charges were inflated
Spread
To be exhibited, displayed, or visible in broad or full extent
The vista spread seemingly to infinity.
Expand
Add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing;
She elaborated on the main ideas in her dissertation
Spread
To become or admit of being distributed in a layer
This paint spreads really well.
Expand
Expand the influence of;
The King extended his rule to the Eastern part of the continent
Spread
To become separated; be forced farther apart
The land masses spread until there was an ocean between them.
Spread
The act or process of spreading
The spread of disease.
Spread
Dissemination, as of news; diffusion.
Spread
An open area of land; an expanse.
Spread
A ranch, farm, or estate.
Spread
The extent or limit to which something is or can be spread
The tree's canopy has a spread of 50 feet.
Spread
A cloth covering for a bed, table, or other piece of furniture.
Spread
(Informal) An abundant meal laid out on a table.
Spread
A food to be spread on bread or crackers.
Spread
Two facing pages of a magazine, newspaper, or book, considered as a unit.
Spread
An article or advertisement running across two or more columns of a newspaper or magazine.
Spread
A difference, as between two figures or totals
What's the spread between tallest and shortest?.
Spread
A position taken in two or more options or futures contracts in order to profit from a change in their relative prices.
Spread
The difference between the price asked and bid for a particular security.
Spread
The difference in yields between two fixed-income securities, as between short-term and long-term bonds.
Spread
A number of points offered to equalize the chances of winning in a wager on a competition, usually between sports teams. Also called point spread.
Spread
Wingspread.
Spread
(transitive) To stretch out, open out (a material etc.) so that it more fully covers a given area of space.
He spread his newspaper on the table.
Spread
(transitive) To extend (individual rays, limbs etc.); to stretch out in varying or opposing directions.
I spread my arms wide and welcomed him home.
Spread
(transitive) To disperse, to scatter or distribute over a given area.
I spread the rice grains evenly over the floor.
Spread
(intransitive) To proliferate; to become more widely present, to be disseminated.
Spread
(transitive) To disseminate; to cause to proliferate, to make (something) widely known or present.
The missionaries quickly spread their new message across the country.
Spread
(intransitive) To take up a larger area or space; to expand, be extended.
I dropped my glass; the water spread quickly over the tiled floor.
Spread
(transitive) To smear, to distribute in a thin layer.
She liked to spread butter on her toast while it was still hot.
Spread
(transitive) To cover (something) with a thin layer of some substance, as of butter.
He always spreads his toast with peanut butter and strawberry jam.
Spread
To prepare; to set and furnish with provisions.
To spread a table
Spread
The act of spreading.
Spread
Something that has been spread.
Spread
(cartomancy) A layout, pattern or design of cards arranged for a reading.
Spread
An expanse of land.
Spread
A large tract of land used to raise livestock; a cattle ranch.
Spread
A piece of material used as a cover (such as a bedspread).
Spread
A large meal, especially one laid out on a table.
Spread
(bread, etc.) Any form of food designed to be spread, such as butters or jams.
Spread
(military) A set of multiple torpedoes launched on side-by-side, slowly-diverging paths toward one or more enemy ships.
Spread
Improvised by inmates from various ingredients to relieve the tedium of prison food.
Spread
An item in a newspaper or magazine that occupies more than one column or page.
Spread
Two facing pages in a book, newspaper etc.
Spread
A numerical difference.
Spread
The difference between the wholesale and retail prices.
Spread
The difference between the price of a futures month and the price of another month of the same commodity.
Spread
The purchase of a futures contract of one delivery month against the sale of another futures delivery month of the same commodity.
Spread
The purchase of one delivery month of one commodity against the sale of that same delivery month of a different commodity.
Spread
(trading) An arbitrage transaction of the same commodity in two markets, executed to take advantage of a profit from price discrepancies.
Spread
(trading) The difference between bidding and asking price.
Spread
(finance) The difference between the prices of two similar items.
Spread
(geometry) An unlimited expanse of discontinuous points.
Spread
The surface in proportion to the depth of a cut gemstone.
Spread
Excessive width of the trails of ink written on overly absorbent paper.
Spread
To extend in length and breadth, or in breadth only; to stretch or expand to a broad or broader surface or extent; to open; to unfurl; as, to spread a carpet; to spread a tent or a sail.
He bought a parcel of a field where he had spread his tent.
Here the RhoneHath spread himself a couch.
Spread
To extend so as to cover something; to extend to a great or greater extent in every direction; to cause to fill or cover a wide or wider space.
Rose, as in a dance, the stately trees, and spreadTheir branches hung with copious fruit.
Spread
To divulge; to publish, as news or fame; to cause to be more extensively known; to disseminate; to make known fully; as, to spread a report; - often accompanied by abroad.
They, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
Spread
To propagate; to cause to affect great numbers; as, to spread a disease.
Spread
To diffuse, as emanations or effluvia; to emit; as, odoriferous plants spread their fragrance.
Spread
To strew; to scatter over a surface; as, to spread manure; to spread lime on the ground.
Spread
To prepare; to set and furnish with provisions; as, to spread a table.
Boiled the flesh, and spread the board.
Spread
To extend in length and breadth in all directions, or in breadth only; to be extended or stretched; to expand.
Plants, if they spread much, are seldom tall.
Governor Winthrop, and his associates at Charlestown, had for a church a large, spreading tree.
Spread
To be extended by drawing or beating; as, some metals spread with difficulty.
Spread
To be made known more extensively, as news.
Spread
To be propagated from one to another; as, the disease spread into all parts of the city.
Spread
Extent; compass.
I have got a fine spread of improvable land.
Spread
Expansion of parts.
No flower hath spread like that of the woodbine.
Spread
A cloth used as a cover for a table or a bed.
Spread
A table, as spread or furnished with a meal; hence, an entertainment of food; a feast.
Spread
A privilege which one person buys of another, of demanding certain shares of stock at a certain price, or of delivering the same shares of stock at another price, within a time agreed upon.
Spread
An unlimited expanse of discontinuous points.
Spread
An arbitrage transaction operated by buying and selling simultaneously in two separate markets, as Chicago and New York, when there is an abnormal difference in price between the two markets. It is called a back spreadwhen the difference in price is less than the normal one.
Spread
Surface in proportion to the depth of a cut stone.
Spread
Process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
Spread
A conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures;
Gap between income and outgo
The spread between lending and borrowing costs
Spread
Farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
Spread
A haphazard distribution in all directions
Spread
A tasty mixture to be spread on bread or crackers
Spread
A meal that is well prepared and greatly enjoyed;
A banquet for the graduating seniors
The Thanksgiving feast
They put out quite a spread
Spread
Two facing pages of a book or other publication
Spread
The expansion of a person's girth (especially at middle age);
She exercised to avoid that middle-aged spread
Spread
Decorative cover for a bed
Spread
Act of extending over a wider scope or expanse of space or time
Spread
Distribute or disperse widely;
The invaders spread their language all over the country
Spread
Become distributed or widespread;
The infection spread
Optimism spread among the population
Spread
Spread across or over;
A big oil spot spread across the water
Spread
Spread out or open from a closed or folded state;
Open the map
Spread your arms
Spread
Cause to become widely known;
Spread information
Circulate a rumor
Broadcast the news
Spread
Become widely known and passed on;
The rumor spread
The story went around in the office
Spread
Strew or distribute over an area;
He spread fertilizer over the lawn
Scatter cards across the table
Spread
Move outward;
The soldiers fanned out
Spread
Cover by spreading something over;
Spread the bread with cheese
Spread
Distribute over a surface in a layer;
Spread cheese on a piece of bread
Spread
Distributed or spread over a considerable extent;
Has ties with many widely dispersed friends
Eleven million Jews are spread throughout Europe
Spread
Prepared or arranged for a meal; especially having food set out;
A table spread with food
Spread
Fully extended in width;
Outspread wings
With arms spread wide
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to expand a business?
To increase the scale, reach, or operational capacity of a business.
What does it mean to spread a rumor?
To circulate or disseminate a rumor among a number of people.
What is the physical process of spreading?
It involves extending or scattering a substance over a surface or area.
What is the difference between expanding a theory and spreading a theory?
Expanding a theory involves adding more details or evidence, while spreading a theory involves sharing it with a broader audience.
How do technological advancements contribute to the spread of information?
Technological advancements like the internet and mobile devices facilitate rapid and widespread dissemination of information.
Can diseases spread in the same way as information?
Yes, diseases can spread through transmission among people, similar to how information spreads.
How can information spread in society?
Information can spread through various channels like media, word of mouth, or the internet.
What tools can be used to spread substances like paint or cream?
Tools like brushes, spatulas, or knives are used to spread these substances.
How do substances like gases typically expand?
Gases expand by increasing in volume and decreasing in density when heated.
Can feelings or emotions spread?
Yes, feelings like excitement or panic can spread among people in a group.
How do businesses use both expansion and spreading in their strategies?
Businesses expand by growing internally and spread by reaching new markets or audiences.
What are the ecological impacts of spreading invasive species?
Invasive species can outcompete native species, disrupt ecosystems, and lead to biodiversity loss.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
