splay
To spread, spread apart, or spread outTo spread, spread apart, or spread out (something); to expand.
» He placed his hand on the table with fingers splayed.
Er legte, die Finger gespreizt, die Hand auf den Tisch.
Meaning
8 senses(transitive)To spread, spread apart, or spread out (something); to expand.
spreizen
spread open or apart
(transitive)To construct a bevel or slope on (something, such as the frame or jamb of a door or window); to bevel, to slant, to slope.
(transitive)To rearrange (a splay tree) so that a desired element is placed at the root.
(transitive)To dislocate (a body part such as a shoulder bone).
(intransitive)To have, or lie in, an oblique or slanted position.
(intransitive)To spread out awkwardly; to sprawl.
move out of position
(Shropshire, transitive)Synonym of spay (“to destroy or remove the ovaries and/or uterus (of a female animal) to prevent pregnancy”).
(obsolete, transitive)To unfurl or unroll (a banner or flag).
Examples
1 sentencesHe placed his hand on the table with fingers splayed.
deEr legte, die Finger gespreizt, die Hand auf den Tisch. — Waldelfe
Translations
2 languagesBy meaning 1
Origin
From Middle English splaien, splayen, a variant of spaien, spayen (“to remove the ovarieFrom Middle English splaien, splayen, a variant of spaien, spayen (“to remove the ovaries of (a female animal), spay; to stab or kill (an animal)”): see spay.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
splays, splaying, splayed, splayedSynonyms
10 synonymsWord family
5 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle