GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 5 definitions 

  1.       

    Span , archaic imp. & p. p. of Spin.
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  2.       

    Span, n. [AS. spann; akin to D. span, OHG. spanna, G. spanne, Icel. spönn. √170. See Span, v. t. ]
    1. The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; eighth of a fathom.
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    2. Hence, a small space or a brief portion of time.
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      Yet not to earth's contracted span
      Thy goodness let me bound.
      Pope.

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      Life's but a span; I'll every inch enjoy.
      Farquhar.

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    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.
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    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.
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    5. [Cf. D. span, Sw. spann, Dan. spaend, 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.
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      Span blocks (Naut.), blocks at the topmast and topgallant-mast heads, for the studding-sail halyards. -- Span counter, an old English child's game, in which one throws a counter on the ground, and another tries to hit it with his counter, or to get his counter so near it that he can span the space between them, and touch both the counters. Halliwell. “Henry V., in whose time boys went to span counter for French crowns.” Shak. -- Span iron (Naut.), a special kind of harpoon, usually secured just below the gunwale of a whaleboat. -- Span roof, a common roof, having two slopes and one ridge, with eaves on both sides. Gwilt. -- Span shackle (Naut.), a large bolt driven through the forecastle deck, with a triangular shackle in the head to receive the heel of the old-fashioned fish davit. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
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  3.       

    Span , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spanned ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spanning.] [AS. pannan; akin to D. & G. spannen, OHG. spannan, Sw. spänna, Dan. spaende, Icel. spenna, and perh. to Gr.  to draw, to drag, L. spatium space. √170. Cf. Spin, v. t., Space, Spasm.]
    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.
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      My right hand hath spanned the heavens.
      Isa. xiviii. 13.

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    2. To reach from one side of to the order; to stretch over as an arch.
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      The rivers were spanned by arches of solid masonry.
      prescott.

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    3. To fetter, as a horse; to hobble.
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  4.       

    Span, v. i. To be matched, as horses. [U. S.]
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  5.       

    Spin , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spun  (Archaic imp. Span ); p. pr. & vb. n. Spinning.] [AS. spinnan; akin to D. & G. spinnen, Icel. & Sw. spinna, Dan. spinde, Goth. spinnan, and probably to E. span. √170. Cf. Span, v. t., Spider.]
    1. To draw out, and twist into threads, either by the hand or machinery; as, to spin wool, cotton, or flax; to spin goat's hair; to produce by drawing out and twisting a fibrous material.
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      All the yarn she [Penelope] spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths.
      Shak.

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    2. To draw out tediously; to form by a slow process, or by degrees; to extend to a great length; -- with out; as, to spin out large volumes on a subject.
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      Do you mean that story is tediously spun out?
      Sheridan.

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    3. To protract; to spend by delays; as, to spin out the day in idleness.
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      By one delay after another they spin out their whole lives.
      L'Estrange.

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    4. To cause to turn round rapidly; to whirl; to twirl; as, to spin a top.
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    5. To form (a web, a cocoon, silk, or the like) from threads produced by the extrusion of a viscid, transparent liquid, which hardens on coming into contact with the air; -- said of the spider, the silkworm, etc.
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    6. (Mech.) To shape, as malleable sheet metal, into a hollow form, by bending or buckling it by pressing against it with a smooth hand tool or roller while the metal revolves, as in a lathe.
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      To spin a yarn (Naut.), to tell a story, esp. a long or fabulous tale. -- To spin hay (Mil.), to twist it into ropes for convenient carriage on an expedition. -- To spin street yarn, to gad about gossiping. [Collog.]
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