span

Pronunciation

• (UK) (US) IPA ^(key): /spæn/
• (AU) IPA ^(key): /spæːn/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular span

Plural spans

1. Span is the full width of an open hand, it is used as an informal unit of length.
2. (by extension) A small space or a brief portion of time.

   He has a short attention span and gets bored within minutes.

Verb

Plain form span

Third-person singular spans

Past tense spanned

Past participle spanned

Present participle spanning

1. (transitive) If A spans between or across B, A extends through the distance between or across B.

   The suspension bridge spanned the canyon.

   (old, no longer used) Span is the past tense of spin.