Splay

/spleɪ/ · verb

Meaning

To spread, spread apart, or spread out (something); to expand..

Definitions by Sense

1. To spread, spread apart, or spread out (something); to expand.
2. To construct a bevel or slope on (something, such as the frame or jamb of a door or window); to bevel, to slant, to slope.
3. To rearrange (a splay tree) so that a desired element is placed at the root.
4. To dislocate (a body part such as a shoulder bone).
5. To unfurl or unroll (a banner or flag).
6. To have, or lie in, an oblique or slanted position.
7. To spread out awkwardly; to sprawl.
8. Oblique, slanted.

Example Sentences

Thiſſame ſo great a chaunge of the world, begoonne within a fewe yeares after Chriſt was putte to death, to be made generall and common through al the whold worlde, and withoute any maintenaunce or ſupportacion of mã [man], it encreaced from tyme to tyme ſtill more and more, vntyll the piece of leauen beeyng miengled in three peckes of meale did leauen and turne al the whole batche, and vntill the graine of muſtard ſeed beeyng digged into the yearth, did ferre and wyde ſpleigh his boughes abrode ouer Aſia, ouer Afrike, and Europe.

The Lydian maiden in her web did portray to her full / […] / Aſteriee ſtruggling with an Erne which did away hir beare, / And ouer Leda ſhe had made a Swan his wings to ſplay.

The tracks are laid with the inner rails only 10 in. apart, except at the half way point (North Walk) where they are splayed out to allow the cars to pass.

At Hounslow, the existing running lines would need splaying to create two turnback sidings inbetween ^([sic]) them, to help accommodate the planned service of 4tph.

When entrance and egress [through a door] are constant, it may be supposed that the valves will be absent or unfastened,—that people will be passing more quickly than when the entrance and egress are unfrequent, and that the square angles of the wall will be inconvenient to such quick passers through. […] [T]hese angles, which would be worn away by friction, should at once be bevelled off, or, as it is called, splayed, and the most contracted part of the aperture made as short as possible, […]

Ye grounde yow vpon Godfrey, that grysly gargons face, / Your stondarde, Syr Olifranke, agenst me for to splay: […]

We rendred then with ſaftie for our liues, / Our Enſignes ſplayed, and manyging our armes, / With furder fayth, that from all kinde of giues, / Our ſouldiours ſhould remayne withouten harmes: […]

"What a finger!" says Mrs. Ponto, and indeed it was a finger, as knotted as a turkey's drumstick, and splaying all over the piano. When she had banged out the tune slowly, she began a different manner of "Gettin' up Stairs," and did so with a fury and swiftness quite incredible.

Synonyms for splay

Antonyms for splay

Related Words

Word Forms

• splays
• splaying
• splayed
• more splay
• most splay

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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