Antonyms for span

Grammar : Noun, verb

Spell : span

Phonetic Transcription : spæn

Definition of span

Origin : "distance between two objects," Old English span "distance between the thumb and little finger of an extended hand," probably related to Middle Dutch spannen "to join, fasten" (see span (n.2)).
The Germanic word was borrowed into Medieval Latin as spannus, hence Italian spanna, Old French espanne, French empan. As a measure of length, roughly nine inches. Meaning "length of time" first attested 1590s; that of "space between abutments of an arch, etc." is from 1725. Meaning "maximum lateral dimension of an aircraft" is first recorded 1909. Attention span is recorded from 1922.

noun distance, duration
verb stretch over

Example sentences :

And each of us, in the span of time, has really only a moment among our companions.
Extract from : « United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches » by Various

I don't know I ever did see the house so spick and span before!
Extract from : « Alice Adams » by Booth Tarkington

She span round and fell all of a heap upon the tiled flooring.
Extract from : « His Masterpiece » by Emile Zola

What was it to her if the Airly's did keep a span, and drive out every day?
Extract from : « The Elm Tree Tales » by F. Irene Burge Smith

By quiet indications the bridge would be built and span their lives with beauty.
Extract from : « Howards End » by E. M. Forster

There were six arches here, of which the two centre ones had a span of 100 ft.
Extract from : « Architecture » by Thomas Roger Smith

As I came onto the old man he was waterin' a span o' horses at the well.
Extract from : « They of the High Trails » by Hamlin Garland

An hour or a million years would be all the same; if you could span the hour, you could span the million years.
Extract from : « Project Mastodon » by Clifford Donald Simak

And scarcely that span of the length of a spar had parted us from him when he sank!
Extract from : « Wisdom, Wit, and Pathos of Ouida » by Ouida

Thirty-five a month for a span o' hosses, and hosses and man kept.
Extract from : « The Rainy Day Railroad War » by Holman Day

Synonyms for span

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019