Scope vs. Span — What's the Difference?

The range of one's perceptions, thoughts, or actions

The extent or measure of space between two points or extremities, as of a bridge or roof; the breadth.

The opportunity or possibility to function or be active

The distance between the tips of the wings of an airplane.

The extent of a given activity or subject that is involved, treated, or relevant

The section between two abutments or piers of a bridge.

The length or sweep of a mooring cable.

Something, such as a railroad trestle or bridge, that extends from one point to another.

(Linguistics) The range over a part of a sentence or discourse that a quantifier has an effect on.

The distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully extended, formerly used as a unit of measure equal to about 9 inches (23 centimeters).

A viewing instrument such as a periscope, microscope, or telescope.

A period of time

To examine or investigate, especially visually

(Nautical) A stretch of rope made fast at either end.

To examine using an optical instrument such as a telescope or an endoscope

A pair of animals, such as oxen, matched as in size or color and driven as a team.

The breadth, depth or reach of a subject; a domain.

To extend across in space or time

(weapons) A device used in aiming a projectile, through which the person aiming looks at the intended target.

To encircle or cover with the hand or hands.

Opportunity; broad range; degree of freedom.

To measure in spans.

(programming) The region of program source code in which a given identifier is meaningful, or a given object can be accessed.

A past tense of spin.

(logic) The shortest sub-wff of which a given instance of a logical connective is a part.

The full width of an open hand from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger used as an informal unit of length.

(linguistics) The region of an utterance to which some modifying element applies.

Any of various traditional units of length approximating this distance, especially the English handspan of 9 inches forming ⅛ fathom and equivalent to 22.86 cm.

(slang) A periscope, telescope, microscope or oscilloscope.

(by extension) A small space or a brief portion of time.

Any medical procedure that ends in the suffix -scopy, such as endoscopy, colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, etc.

A portion of something by length; a subsequence.

(obsolete) A bundle, as of twigs.

The spread or extent of an arch or between its abutments, or of a beam, girder, truss, roof, bridge, or the like, between supports.

To perform a cursory investigation of; scope out.

The length of a cable, wire, rope, chain between two consecutive supports.

To perform any medical procedure that ends in the suffix -scopy, such as endoscopy, colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, etc.

(nautical) A rope having its ends made fast so that a purchase can be hooked to the bight; also, a rope made fast in the center so that both ends can be used.

To define the scope of something.

A pair of horses or other animals driven together; usually, such a pair of horses when similar in color, form, and action.

(programming) To limit (an object or variable) to a certain region of program source code.

(mathematics) The space of all linear combinations of something.

(informal) To examine under a microscope.

(computing) The time required to execute a parallel algorithm on an infinite number of processors, i.e. the shortest distance across a directed acyclic graph representing the computation steps.

To observe a bird using a spotting scope.

Wingspan of a plane or bird

That at which one aims; the thing or end to which the mind directs its view; that which is purposed to be reached or accomplished; hence, ultimate design, aim, or purpose; intention; drift; object.

(transitive) To extend through the distance between or across.

Room or opportunity for free outlook or aim; space for action; amplitude of opportunity; free course or vent; liberty; range of view, intent, or action.

(transitive) To extend through (a time period).

Extended area.

(transitive) To measure by the span of the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers encompassing the object.

Length; extent; sweep; as, scope of cable.

(mathematics) To generate an entire space by means of linear combinations.

To look at for the purpose of evaluation; usually with out; as, to scope out the area as a camping site.

To be matched, as horses.

An area in which something acts or operates or has power or control:

(transitive) To fetter, as a horse; to hobble.

The state of the environment in which a situation exists;

The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; eighth of a fathom.

A magnifier of images of distant objects

Hence, a small space or a brief portion of time.

Electronic equipment that provides visual images of varying electrical quantities

The spread or extent of an arch between its abutments, or of a beam, girder, truss, roof, bridge, or the like, between its supports.

A rope having its ends made fast so that a purchase can be hooked to the bight; also, a rope made fast in the center so that both ends can be used.

A pair of horses or other animals driven together; usually, such a pair of horses when similar in color, form, and action.

To measure by the span of the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers encompassing the object; as, to span a space or distance; to span a cylinder.

To reach from one side of to the order; to stretch over as an arch.

To fetter, as a horse; to hobble.

To be matched, as horses.

The complete duration of something;

The distance or interval between two points

Two items of the same kind

A unit of length based on the width of the expanded human hand (usually taken as 9 inches)

A structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.

The act of sitting or standing astride

To cover or extend over an area or time period;