Span

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Span, imp. & p. p. 

 imp. & p. p. of Spin.  [1913 Webster]

Span, n. [AS. spann; akin to D. span, OHG. spanna, G. spanne, Icel. spönn. Span, v. t. ].

•  The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; eighth of a fathom.  [1913 Webster]
•  Hence, a small space or a brief portion of time.  [1913 Webster]

  "Yet not to earth's contracted span
  Thy goodness let me bound."  [1913 Webster]

  "Life's but a span; I'll every inch enjoy."  [1913 Webster]
•  The spread or extent of an arch between its abutments, or of a beam, girder, truss, roof, bridge, or the like, between its supports.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  A pair of horses or other animals driven together; usually, such a pair of horses when similar in color, form, and action.  [1913 Webster]

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.

Span, v. t. [AS. pannan; akin to D. & G. spannen, OHG. spannan, Sw. spänna, Dan. spænde, Icel. spenna, and perh. to Gr. to draw, to drag, L. spatium space. Spin, v. t., Space, Spasm.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "My right hand hath spanned the heavens."  [1913 Webster]
•  To reach from one side of to the order; to stretch over as an arch.  [1913 Webster]

  "The rivers were spanned by arches of solid masonry."  [1913 Webster]
•  To fetter, as a horse; to hobble.  [1913 Webster]

Span, v. i. 

 To be matched, as horses.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Span, n. & v.
--n.
1 the full extent from end to end in space or time (the span of a bridge; the whole span of history).
2 each arch or part of a bridge between piers or supports.
3 the maximum lateral extent of an aeroplane, its wing, a bird's wing, etc.
4 a the maximum distance between the tips of the thumb and little finger. b this as a measurement, equal to 9 inches.
5 a short distance or time (our life is but a span).
--v. (spanned, spanning)
1 tr. a (of a bridge, arch, etc.) stretch from side to side of; extend across (the bridge spanned the river). b (of a builder etc.) bridge (a river etc.).
2 tr. extend across (space or a period of time etc.).
3 tr. measure or cover the extent of (a thing) with one's hand with the fingers stretched (spanned a tenth on the piano).
4 intr. US move in distinct stretches like the span-worm.

Idiom

span roof a roof with two inclined sides (opp. PENTHOUSE 2, lean-to (see LEAN(1))). span-worm US the caterpillar of the geometer moth.

Span, n.
1 Naut. a rope with both ends fastened to take purchase in a loop.
2 US a matched pair of horses, mules, etc.
3 S.Afr. a team of two or more pairs of oxen.

Span, see SPICK AND SPAN.

Span, archaic past of SPIN.

THESAURUS

Span

Bifrost, a breath, accouple, accumulate, ace, aesthetic distance, agglutinate, amass, amplitude, appraise, appreciate, apse, arcade, arcature, arch, arch over, arched roof, archway, articulate, assay, assemble, assess, associate, band, bascule bridge, bateau bridge, beam, bestraddle, bestride, bit, bond, both, bowshot, brace, bracket, breadth, bridge, bridge over, brief span, broadness, calculate, calibrate, caliper, camber, cantilever bridge, carry, catwalk, ceilinged roof, cement, chain, check a parameter, clap together, clearance, close quarters, close range, collect, combine, compass, comprise, compute, concameration, concatenate, concha, conglobulate, conjoin, conjugate, connect, copulate, couple, couple up, couplet, course, cove, cover, crack, cross, cupola, day, deep space, depths of space, dial, distance, distance across, distich, divergence, divide, dome, double harness, double-harness, double-team, doublet, drawbridge, duad, duet, duo, duration, dyad, earreach, earshot, embrace, encompass, environ, equipage, estimate, evaluate, expanse, extend, extend over, extension, extent, farness, fateful moment, fathom, floating bridge, flyover, footbridge, four-in-hand, fullness, gangboard, gangplank, gangway, gather, gauge, geodesic dome, glue, go, go out, go over, graduate, gunshot, hair, hair space, hairbreadth, hairsbreadth, hang over, hold, hour, igloo, imbricate, inch, include, infinity, instant, interval, join, juncture, jut, kairos, keystone, knot, lap, lap over, latitude, lay together, league, leeway, length, lengthiness, lie, lie over, lift bridge, light-years, linear measures, link, little, little bit, little ways, little while, long time, longitude, longness, lump together, margin, marry, marshal, mass, match, mate, mates, measure, mensurate, merge, mete, meter, mileage, minute, mobilize, moment, moment of truth, no time, ogive, overall length, overarch, overbridge, overcrossing, overhang, overlap, overlie, overpass, override, pace, pair, pair of winks, pair off, parsecs, period, perpetuity, perspective, piece, piece together, pistol shot, plumb, point, pontoon bridge, pregnant moment, prize, probe, psychological moment, put together, quantify, quantize, randem, range, rate, reach, reach out, remoteness, rig, roll into one, rope bridge, run, season, separation, set of two, shingle, short distance, short piece, short spell, short time, short way, size, size up, skewback, small space, solder, sound, space, spell, spike, spike team, spitting distance, splice, spread, spurt, stage, step, stepping-stone, stepstone, stick together, straddle, stretch, stretch out, stride, surround, survey, suspension bridge, sweep, swing bridge, take a reading, take in, tandem, tape, team, team up, term, the two, three-up, thrust out, tie, time, time lag, toll bridge, triangulate, turnout, twain, two, two shakes, twosome, unicorn, unify, unite, valuate, value, vault, vaulting, viaduct, voussoir, way, ways, weigh, weld, while, wideness, width, yardage, yoke

ROGET THESAURUS

Span

Similarity

VB be similar, look like, resemble, bear resemblance, smack of, savor of, approximate, parallel, match, rhyme with, take after, imitate, favor, span, render similar, assimilate, approximate, bring near, connaturalize, make alike, rhyme, pun.

Junction

VB join, unite, conjoin, connect, associate, put together, lay together, clap together, hang together, lump together, hold together, piece together, tack together, fix together, bind up together together, embody, reembody, roll into one, attach, fix, affix, saddle on, fasten, bind, secure, clinch, twist, make fast, tie, pinion, string, strap, sew, lace, tat, stitch, tack, knit, button, buckle, hitch, lash, truss, bandage, braid, splice, swathe, gird, tether, moor, picket, harness, chain, fetter, lock, latch, belay, brace, hook, grapple, leash, couple, accouple, link, yoke, bracket, marry, bridge over, span, braze, pin, nail, bolt, hasp, clasp, clamp, crimp, screw, rivet, impact, solder, set, weld together, fuse together, wedge, rabbet, mortise, miter, jam, dovetail, enchase, graft, ingraft, inosculate, entwine, intwine, interlink, interlace, intertwine, intertwist, interweave, entangle, twine round, belay, tighten, trice up, screw up, be joined, hang together, hold together, cohere.

Connection

VB bridge over, span, connect, hang.

Duality

N duality, dualism, duplicity, biplicity, biformity, polarity, two, deuce, couple, duet, brace, pair, cheeks, twins, Castor and Pollux, gemini, Siamese twins, fellows, yoke, conjugation, dispermy, doublets, dyad, span, two, twin, dual, dualistic, double, binary, binomial, twin, biparous, dyadic, conduplicate, duplex, biduous, binate, diphyletic, dispermic, unijugate, tete-a-tete, coupled, conjugate, both, both the one and the other.

VB pair, couple, bracket, yoke, conduplicate, mate, span.

Time

N time, duration, period, term, stage, space, span, spell, season, the whole time, the whole period, space-time, course, snap, intermediate time, while, interim, interval, pendency, intervention, intermission, intermittence, interregnum, interlude, respite, era, epoch, time of life, age, year, date, decade, moment, glass of time, sands of time, march of time, Father Time, ravages of time, arrow of time, river of time, whirligig of time, noiseless foot of time, scythe, continuing, on foot, permanent, while, whilst, during, pending, during the time, during the interval, in the course of, at that point, at that point in time, for the time being, day by day, in the time of, when, meantime, meanwhile, in the meantime, in the interim, ad interim, pendente lite, de die in diem, from day to day, from hour to hour, hourly, always, for a time, for a season, till, until, up to, yet, as far as, by that time, so far, hereunto, heretofore, prior to this, up to this point, the whole time, all the time, all along, throughout, for good, hereupon, thereupon, whereupon, then, anno Domini, A, D, ante Christum, A, C, before Christ, B, C, anno urbis conditae, A, U, C, anno regni, A, R, once upon a time, one fine morning, one fine day, one day, once, time flies, tempus fugit, time runs out, time runs against, race against time, racing the clock, time marches on, time is of the essence, time and tide wait for no man, ad calendas Groecas, panting Time toileth after him in vain, 'gainst the tooth of time and razure of oblivion, rich with the spoils of time, tempus edax rerum, the long hours come and go, the time is out of joint, Time rolls his ceaseless course, Time the foe of man's dominion, time wasted is existence, used is life, truditur dies die, volat hora per orbem, carpe diem.

Transientness

N transience, transientness, evanescence, impermanence, fugacity, caducity, mortality, span, nine days' wonder, bubble, Mayfly, spurt, flash in the pan, temporary arrangement, interregnum, velocity, suddenness, changeableness, transient, transient boarder, transient guest, transient, transitory, transitive, passing, evanescent, fleeting, cursory, short-lived, ephemeral, flying, fugacious, fugitive, shifting, slippery, spasmodic, instantaneous, momentaneous, temporal, temporary, provisional, provisory, deciduous, perishable, mortal, precarious, unstable, insecure, impermanent, brief, quick, brisk, extemporaneous, summary, pressed for time, sudden, momentary, temporarily, pro tempore, for the moment, for a time, awhile, en passant, in transitu, in a short time, soon, briefly, at short notice, on the point of, on the eve of, in articulo, between cup and lip, one's days are numbered, the time is up, here today and gone tomorrow, non semper erit aestas, eheu! fugaces labuntur anni, sic transit gloria mundi, a schoolboy's tale, the wonder of the hour!, dum loquimur fugerit invidia aetas, fugit hora, all that is transitory is but an illusion.

Distance

N distance, space, remoteness, farness, far- cry to, longinquity, elongation, offing, background, remote region, removedness, parallax, reach, span, stride, outpost, outskirt, horizon, aphelion, foreign parts, ultima Thule, ne plus ultra, antipodes, long range, giant's stride, dispersion, length, cosmic distance, light-years, distant, far off, far away, remote, telescopic, distal, wide of, stretching to, yon, yonder, ulterior, transmarine, transpontine, transatlantic, transalpine, tramontane, ultramontane, ultramundane, hyperborean, antipodean, inaccessible, out of the way, unapproached, unapproachable, incontiguous, far off, far away, afar, afar off, off, away, a long way off, a great way off, a good way off, wide away, aloof, wide of, clear of, out of the way, out of reach, abroad, yonder, farther, further, beyond, outre mer, over the border, far and wide, over the hills and far away, from pole to pole, to the uttermost parts, to the ends of the earth, out of hearing, nobody knows where, a perte de vue, out of the sphere of, wide of the mark, a far cry to, apart, asunder, wide apart, wide asunder, longo intervallo, at arm's length, distance lends enchantment, it's a long long way to Tipperary, out of sight, out of mind.

Nearness

N nearness, proximity, propinquity, vicinity, vicinage, neighborhood, adjacency, contiguity, short distance, short step, short cut, earshot, close quarters, stone's throw, bow shot, gun shot, pistol shot, hair's breadth, span, purlieus, neighborhood, vicinage, environs, alentours, suburbs, confines, banlieue, borderland, whereabouts, bystander, neighbor, borderer, approach, convergence, perihelion, near, nigh, close at hand, near at hand, close, neighboring, bordering upon, contiguous, adjacent, adjoining, proximate, proximal, at hand, handy, near the mark, near run, home, intimate, near, nigh, hard by, fast by, close to, close upon, hard upon, at the point of, next door to, within reach, within call, within hearing, within earshot, within an ace of, but a step, not far from, at no great distance, on the verge of, on the brink of, on the skirts of, in the environs, at one's door, at one's feet, at one's elbow, at one's finger's end, at one's side, on the tip of one's tongue, under one's nose, within a stone's throw, in sight of, in presence of, at close quarters, cheek by jole, cheek by jowl, beside, alongside, side by side, tete-a-tete, in juxtaposition, yardarm to yardarm, at the heels of, on the confines of, at the threshold, bordering upon, verging to, in the way, about, hereabouts, thereabouts, roughly, in round numbers, approximately, approximatively, as good as, well-nigh.

Length

N length, longitude, span, mileage, distance, line, bar, rule, stripe, streak, spoke, radius, lengthening, prolongation, production, protraction, tension, tensure, extension, line, nail, inch, hand, palm, foot, cubit, yard, ell, fathom, rood, pole, furlong, mile, league, chain, link, arpent, handbreadth, jornada, kos, vara, astronomical unit, AU, light- year, parsec, nanometer, nm, micron, micrometer, millimicron, millimeter, mm, centimeter, cm, meter, kilometer, km, pedometer, perambulator, scale, long, longsome, lengthy, wiredrawn, outstretched, lengthened, sesquipedalian, interminable, no end of, macrocolous, linear, lineal, longitudinal, oblong, as long as my arm, as long as today and tomorrow, unshortened &c (shorten), lengthwise, at length, longitudinally, endlong, along, tandem, in a line, in perspective, from end to end, from stem to stern, from head to foot, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, from top to toe, fore and aft.

Measurement

VB measure, mete, determine, assay, evaluate, value, assess, rate, appraise, estimate, form an estimate, set a value on, appreciate, standardize, span, pace step, apply the compass, gauge, plumb, probe, sound, fathom, heave the log, heave the lead, survey, weigh, take an average, graduate.