span Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the complete duration of something
    • the job was finished in the span of an hour
  2. noun the distance or interval between two points
  3. noun two items of the same kind
    twosome; distich; couple; duo; twain; yoke; couplet; pair; duet; brace; dyad; duad.
  4. noun a unit of length based on the width of the expanded human hand (usually taken as 9 inches)
  5. noun a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
    bridge.
  6. noun the act of sitting or standing astride
    straddle.
  7. verb to cover or extend over an area or time period
    traverse; cross; sweep.
    • Rivers traverse the valley floor", "The parking lot spans 3 acres
    • The novel spans three centuries

WordNet

Span
Definitions
archaic
  1. imp. & p. p. of Spin.
Span noun
Etymology
AS. spann; akin to D. span, OHG. spanna, G. spanne, Icel. spönn. See Span, v. t.
Definitions
  1. The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; eighth of a fathom.
  2. Hence, a small space or a brief portion of time.
    Yet not to earth's contracted span Thy goodness let me bound. Pope.
    Life's but a span; I'll every inch enjoy. Farquhar.
  3. The spread or extent of an arch between its abutments, or of a beam, girder, truss, roof, bridge, or the like, between its supports.
  4. (Naut.) 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.
  5. Cf. D. span, Sw. spann, Dan. spænd, G. gespann. See Span, v. t. A pair of horses or other animals driven together; usually, such a pair of horses when similar in color, form, and action.
Span transitive verb
Etymology
AS. pannan; akin to D. & G. spannen, OHG. spannan, Sw. spänna, Dan. spænde, Icel. spenna, and perh. to Gr. to draw, to drag, L. spatium space. Cf. Spin, v. t., Space, Spasm.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Spanned ; present participle & verbal noun Spanning
Definitions
  1. 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.
    My right hand hath spanned the heavens. Isa. xiviii. 13.
  2. To reach from one side of to the order; to stretch over as an arch.
    The rivers were spanned by arches of solid masonry. prescott.
  3. To fetter, as a horse; to hobble.
Span intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be matched, as horses. U. S.

Webster 1913