Spanned
ˈspænd
Definitions
2 meaningsTo extend across or over something; to include or encompass; to cover a period of time.
ˈspænd
To extend across a space or time.
The old oak tree's branches spanned the entire yard.
💡 Simply: Imagine a bridge going across a river. The bridge *spans* the river, reaching from one side to the other. Or, imagine a long road trip that *spans* several days.
👶 For kids: To reach from one side to another, like a bridge goes across a river.
More Examples
The investigation spanned several months.
The conversation spanned a wide range of topics.
How It's Used
"The bridge spanned the wide river."
"The Roman Empire spanned several centuries."
To measure with one's hand extended, from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger.
ˈspænd
To measure by using the extent of one's hand.
The tailor spanned the length of the cloth.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone measuring fabric with their hand. They might *span* across the cloth to get a rough idea of its length. This use is historical.
👶 For kids: This is a super old-fashioned word. It means to measure something with your hand, from your thumb to your pinky finger, like measuring a piece of paper.
More Examples
The carpenter spanned the board to estimate its width.
How It's Used
"The cloth was measured by a *span*."
From Middle English *spannen*, from Old English *spannan* ('to join, stretch, span'), from Proto-Germanic *spannaną* ('to stretch, span'), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pen-* ('to draw, stretch, spin').
Historically, 'span' was used as a unit of measurement, as the distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger of a stretched hand. In a sentence, it's most often used in the context of duration, extension, or covering a distance.
Memory tip
Imagine a spider's web that *spans* from one side of a room to the other. It stretches across.
Word Origin
"to stretch, extend"