[] spread sth (out) (over sth)to separate sth into parts and divide them between different times or different people 分次进行；（由若干人）分摊◆We attempted to spread the workload evenly between the two departments. 我们试图把这一工作量均分给这两个部门。◆The payments are spread over a year. 这些款项在一年内分次支付。◆We are diversifying into new products in order to spread the risk. 我们正在通过经营多种新产品实行多元化以分散风险。
[] to affect or make sth affect, be known by, or used by more and more people 传播；散布；流传◆The virus spread across the world in hours. 这一病毒在数小时内传遍全世界。
[] (used with an adverb or a preposition 与副词或介词连用) to cover, or make sth cover, a large area 遍布；延伸◆Our stores are spread throughout the country. 我们的商店遍布全国。