1. To move, disperse, or be distributed to another thing or place. Contact me as soon as possible if the rash spreads to any other part of your body. We need to contain the oil spill before it spreads to the river.

2. To cause something to move, disperse, or be distributed to another person, place, or thing. I always put a knob of butter in the middle the toast, let it get soft, then spread it to the edges. Please cover your mouth when you sneeze, or you'll spread germs to everyone in the house!

3. Of a condition or state, to extend to and affect or engulf some other place. The movement gained a footing in France, then spread to other countries around the world. The rioting began in downtown L.A., but quickly spread to the rest of the city.

4. To cause some condition or state to reach, affect, or engulf some other place. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "spread" and "over." The senator said that we should be trying to spread democracy to every corner of the world. The regime began spreading war to its neighboring countries in a bid to control the entire region.