span
span
Span (noun) means the distance or length between two points, edges, or supports. Example: “The span between the two pillars was too wide for a plain wooden beam.”
noun
1
The distance or length between two points, edges, or supports.
"The span between the two pillars was too wide for a plain wooden beam."
"The bridge has a span of nearly two kilometers."
"The eagle's wingspan reached almost two meters."
2
A stretch or period of time.
"Over a short span of time, the village changed beyond recognition."
"The attention span of a toddler is usually quite brief."
"Her career spanned a remarkable span of forty years."
verb
1
To extend across or over something.
"A rainbow spanned the sky from the hills to the sea."
"The new bridge spans the entire river valley."
"His research spans several different fields of science."
How to use span
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA stretch of distance, time, or coverage — or the act of reaching across it.
Common pairings
span of time
attention span
bridge spans the river
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Word forms
- Plural
- spans
- Third person singular
- spans
- Past tense
- spanned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ between the two pillars was too wide for a plain wooden beam.
Etymology
From Old English spann, going back to a Germanic root meaning "to stretch."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for span
See all rhymes for span →Frequently asked questions
What does “span” mean?
The word “span” means the distance or length between two points, edges, or supports. In plain terms, a stretch of distance, time, or coverage — or the act of reaching across it.
How do you pronounce “span”?
“Span” is pronounced span (/spæn/ in IPA).
How do you use “span” in a sentence?
Here is “span” used in a sentence: “The bridge has a span of nearly two kilometers.”
What part of speech is “span”?
Depending on how it is used, “span” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “span” come from?
The word “span” comes from Old English. From Old English spann, going back to a Germanic root meaning "to stretch.".
Is “span” a common word?
“Span” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “span” have?
“Span” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the distance or length between two points, edges, or supports.
What is the span of a bridge?
A bridge's span is the distance between two of its supports, such as piers or towers, or the section of deck that crosses that distance. A long bridge may consist of several spans, and the longest single span is often quoted as a measure of the structure's scale.
What is an attention span?
An attention span is the length of time a person can concentrate on one task or subject before becoming distracted. It uses span in its time sense, a stretch or period of time, and commonly appears in phrases like "a short attention span".
Is lifespan one word or two?
Both spellings are in use: some dictionaries enter it as one word, lifespan, while others prefer life span as two words. Whichever form you choose, it means the length of time a person, animal or thing lives or lasts, and consistency within a document is what matters.
Can span be used as a verb?
Yes. As a verb, span means to extend across or over something, in space or in time: "the bridge spans the river" and "her career spanned four decades". The past tense and past participle are spanned.
