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span
[span]
noun
span (noun) · spans (plural noun)

the full extent of something from end to end; the amount of space that something covers:
"a warehouse with a clear span of 28 feet"
the length of time for which something lasts:
"a short concentration span"
the wingspan of an aircraft or a bird.
an arch or part of a bridge between piers or supports.
the maximum distance between the tips of the thumb and little finger, taken as the basis of a measurement equal to 9 inches.
archaic
a short distance or time.
verb
span (verb) · spans (third person present) · spanned (past tense) · spanned (past participle) · spanning (present participle)

(of a bridge, arch, etc.) extend from side to side of:
"the stream was spanned by a narrow bridge"
extend across (a period of time or a range of subjects):
"their interests span almost all the conventional disciplines"
cover or enclose with the length of one's hand:
"her waist was slender enough for him to span with his hands"
Origin
Old English span, ‘distance between the tips of the thumb and little finger’, of Germanic origin; reinforced in Middle English by Old French espan.
span
[span]
noun
span (noun) · spans (plural noun)

nautical
a rope with its ends fastened at different points to a spar or other object in order to provide a purchase.
NORTH AMERICAN ENGLISH
a matched pair of horses, mules, or oxen.
Origin
mid 16th century (as a verb): from Dutch or Low German spannen. The noun (originally in nautical use) dates from the mid 18th century.
span
[span]
adjective

see spick and span
span
[span]
verb
span (past tense)

archaic or non-standard past of spin
Span.
[Span.]
abbreviation

Spaniard.
Spanish.
spin
[spin]
verb
span (past tense) · span (past participle)

turn or cause to turn or whirl around quickly:
"the girl spun around in alarm" · "the rear wheels spun violently" · "he fiddled with the radio, spinning the dial"
(of a person's head) give a sensation of dizziness:
"the figures were enough to make her head spin"
cricket
impart a revolving motion to (a ball) when bowling.
cricket
(of a ball) move through the air with a revolving motion:
"the ball spun in viciously" · "they had to spin the ball wide"
shape (sheet metal) by pressure applied during rotation on a lathe:
"spun metal components"
draw out (wool, cotton, or other material) and convert it into threads, either by hand or with machinery:
"an old lady sat, spinning thread" · "they spin wool into the yarn for weaving"
make (threads) by drawing out and twisting fibers:
"this method is used to spin filaments from syrups"
(of a spider or a silkworm or other insect) produce (gossamer or silk) or construct (a web or cocoon) by extruding a fine viscous thread from a special gland.
give (a news story or other information) a particular interpretation, especially a favorable one.
fish with a spinner:
"they were spinning for salmon in the lake"
Origin
Old English spinnan ‘draw out and twist (fiber’); related to German spinnen. The noun dates from the mid 19th century.
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Similar and Opposite Words
noun
the full extent of something from end to end; the amount of space that something covers:
length
width
reach
stretch
spread
distance
compass
range
(full) extent
the length of time for which something lasts:
period
space
time
duration
stretch
course
interval
season
term
the wingspan of an aircraft or a bird.
length
width
reach
stretch
spread
distance
compass
range
(full) extent
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verb
(of a bridge, arch, etc.) extend from side to side of:
bridge
cross
traverse
pass over
arch over
vault over
extend across (a period of time or a range of subjects):
last
cover
comprise
compass
extend over
stretch across
spread over
range over
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verb
turn or cause to turn or whirl around quickly:
revolve
rotate
turn
turn around
go around
whirl
gyrate
circle
wheel
twirl
swing
twist
swivel
pirouette
pivot
swirl
birl
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(of a person's head) give a sensation of dizziness:
reel
go around
whirl
swim
be in a whirl
be giddy
be dizzy
(of a ball) move through the air with a revolving motion:
go around
turn around
rotate
whirl
pirouette
wheel