span

/spæn/

Thân thiện

The bridge spans the wide river.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A unit of length: The distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully extended, traditionally about 9 inches.
   • The full extent or distance between two points: The length of something from end to end.
   • A structure crossing a gap: The part of a bridge, arch, or similar structure that stretches across a space from one support to another.
   • A short period of time: The duration or length of time that something lasts or continues.

2. Verb:

   • To extend across or over: To stretch from one side or limit to another; to cover an area or distance.
   • To last throughout a period of time: To continue or exist over a specified duration.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • He measured the table's width with a span of his hand.
  • The bridge has a main span of 500 meters.
  • Her career spanned three decades.
  • The whole span of human history is filled with innovation.

• Verb:

  • A single bridge spans the wide river.
  • The project will span several years.
  • His knowledge spans many different subjects.

Advanced Usage

• "Attention span": The length of time one can concentrate on a task without becoming distracted.

  • Children often have a short attention span.

• "Life span": The average length of life of a kind of organism or of a material object.

  • The life span of a butterfly is relatively short.

• "To span the gap": To connect two different things, ideas, or groups.

  • This new theory spans the gap between two competing schools of thought.

Variants and Related Words

• Wingspan (n): The maximum extent across the wings of an aircraft or bird.

  • The eagle has an impressive wingspan.

• Spanner (n, chiefly British): A wrench (a tool for gripping and turning nuts or bolts).

  • He used a spanner to tighten the bolt.

Synonyms

• Noun: Extent, length, duration, stretch, period.
• Verb: Cross, bridge, traverse, cover, extend over.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: "Span" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its verbal use is typically straightforward.)

Related Idioms

• "Spick and span": Neat, clean, and tidy.
  • She always keeps her house spick and span.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the act of sitting or standing astride
2. a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
3. a unit of length based on the width of the expanded human hand (usually taken as 9 inches)
4. two items of the same kind
5. the distance or interval between two points
6. the complete duration of something
   • the job was finished in the span of an hour

Verb

1. to cover or extend over an area or time period
   • Rivers traverse the valley floor, The parking lot spans 3 acres
   • The novel spans three centuries

Từ đồng nghĩa

• straddle
• bridge
• cross
• traverse
• sweep