splay

1 of 3

verb

ˈsplā 

splayed; splaying; splays

transitive verb

1

: to cause to spread outward

2

: to make oblique : bevel

intransitive verb

1

: to extend apart or outward especially in an awkward manner

2

: slope, slant

splay

2 of 3

noun

1

: a slope or bevel especially of the sides of a door or window

2

: spread, expansion

splay

3 of 3

adjective

1

: turned outward

splay knees

2

: awkward, ungainly

Examples of splay in a Sentence

Verb

He sat with his legs splayed apart.

She splayed her fingers to show off her manicure.

His fingers splayed out over the table as he steadied himself.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

And Mullin’s case involved mailers that went directly to his Assembly constituents, not television ads splayed across the entire Bay Area. —Mercury News Editorial, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024

Floating Points: Cascade [Ninja Tune] Sam Shepherd’s first solo Floating Points album since 2019 reasserts the British producer and jazz composer at the helm of the dancefloor, splaying ornate melodies over twitchy rhythms as likely to induce stupefied wonder as full-body spasms. —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 13 Sep. 2024

Noun

Even our runners with regular-width feet appreciated the extra space, once they got used to their toes having room for their natural positioning and splay. —Cory Smith, Outside Online, 19 Sep. 2024

For some people, simply switching shoes (and possibly ditching their socks) is enough to help their toes achieve proper splay. —Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English splaien "to unfurl, spread out, spread-eagle, split (a fish) lengthwise and lay open," aphetic form of displaien "to unfurl (a banner), spread (the arms), display entry 1"

Noun

derivative of splay entry 1

Adjective

derivative of splay entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1508, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

splay

verb

ˈsplā

: to spread out or apart

a colt with legs splayed out