span

span
span1
/span/, n., v., spanned, spanning.
n.
1. the distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully extended.
2. a unit of length corresponding to this distance, commonly taken as 9 in. (23 cm).
3. a distance, amount, piece, etc., of this length or of some small extent: a span of lace.
4. Civ. Engin., Archit.
a. the distance between two supports of a structure.
b. the structure so supported.
c. the distance or space between two supports of a bridge.
5. the full extent, stretch, or reach of anything: a long span of memory.
6. Aeron. the distance between the wing tips of an airplane.
7. a limited space of time, as the term or period of living: Our span on earth is short.
8. Math. the smallest subspace of a vector space that contains a given element or set of elements.
v.t.
9. to measure by the hand with the thumb and little finger extended.
10. to encircle with the hand or hands, as the waist.
11. to extend over or across (a section of land, a river, etc.).
12. to provide with something that extends over: to span a river with a bridge.
13. to extend or reach over (space or time): a memory that spans 90 years.
14. Math. to function (in a subspace of a vector space) as a span.
15. Archery. to bend (the bow) in preparation for shooting.
[bef. 900; (n.) ME spanne, sponne, spayn, OE span(n), spon(n); c. G Spanne, D span, ON sponn; (v.) ME spaynen, deriv. of the n.]
span2
/span/, n.
a pair of horses or other animals harnessed and driven together.
[1760-70, Amer.; < D: team (of oxen, horses)]
Syn. team. See pair.
span3
/span/, v. Archaic.
a pt. of spin.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Span — Span, n. [AS. spann; akin to D. span, OHG. spanna, G. spanne, Icel. sp[ o]nn. [root]170. See {Span}, v. t. ] 1. The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; eighth of a fathom. [1913 Webster] 2. Hence, a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Span — may refer to length or space:* span (length), the width of a human hand * span (architecture) ** For powerlines, the distance between two pylons ** For aerial tramways, the distance between two supporting structures ** For a bridge, the distance… …   Wikipedia

  • span — span1 [span] n. [ME spanne < OE sponn, akin to Ger spanne < IE * (s)pen(d) , to pull, draw (> SPIN, Gr span, to pull) < base * spe , to pull, extend] 1. a unit of linear measure equal to nine inches, based on the distance between the… …   English World dictionary

  • Span — steht für: ein mechanisch abgetrenntes Werkstoffteilchen, aus Metall, siehe Metallspan. aus Holz, siehe Holzspan. eine Schweizer Mundartband, siehe Span (schweizerische Band) eine norwegische Musikgruppe, siehe Span (norwegische Band) ein… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Span — Sm std. (9. Jh.), mhd. spān, ahd. spān, mndd. spān, mndl. spaen Stammwort. Aus g. * spǣnu m. Span , auch in anord. spánn, ae. spōn m./f., afr. spon. Herkunft unklar. Es gibt eine Reihe von Wörtern mit der Bedeutung Span , die ig. * sphē /sphə und …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • Span — Span: Das altgerm. Wort mhd., ahd. spān »‹Holz›span«, niederl. spaan »Span; Butterstecher; Ruderblatt«, engl. spoon »Löffel«, schwed. spån »Span; Schindel« bezeichnete ursprünglich ein flaches, lang abgespaltenes Holzstück, wie es bei der… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

  • spân — SPÂN, Ă, spâni, e, adj. Căruia nu i creşte (aproape) deloc barbă şi mustaţă. Faţă spână. Om spân. ♢ (Substantivat, m.) Spânul vrea sa ţi răpuie capul (CREANGĂ). – lat. *spanus (< gr.). Trimis de Zavaidoc, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DLRM  SPÂN, Ă,… …   Dicționar Român

  • Span — Span, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spanned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Spanning}.] [AS. pannan; akin to D. & G. spannen, OHG. spannan, Sw. sp[ a]nna, Dan. sp[ae]nde, Icel. spenna, and perh. to Gr. ? to draw, to drag, L. spatium space. [root]170. Cf. {Spin}, v. t …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • span|dy — «SPAN dee», adjective, adverb. –adj. Especially U.S. Informal. very good or fine; smart: »My silk stockings and two pairs of spandy gloves are my comfort (Louisa May Alcott). –adv. wholly; perfectly: »a spandy new suit. ╂[probably variant of… …   Useful english dictionary

  • spån — sb., en, er, erne, i sms. spån , fx spånstrøelse, spånæske; gå i spåner …   Dansk ordbog

  • Span — Span, v. i. To be matched, as horses. [U. S.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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