spreader

noun

spread·​er ˈspre-dər 

: one that spreads: such as

a

: an implement for scattering material

b

: a small knife used especially for spreading butter

c

: a device (such as a bar) holding two linear elements (such as lines, guys, rails) apart and usually taut

Examples of spreader in a Sentence

Mosquito are spreaders of disease.

Recent Examples on the Web

Jackson County has 18 vehicles equipped with plows and spreaders to treat roads: four tandem trucks, 10 single-axle dump trucks, and four 6500-class Chevrolet trucks. —Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2025

President 's choice to nominate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to serve as secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and place the lives and health of every American in the hands of a conspiracy theorist, misinformation spreader, and science denier is the wrong one. —Edward J. Markey, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025

For even coverage, apply half the seed making passes with the spreader in one direction, then apply the second half of the seed in the opposite direction. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 Dec. 2024

For both applications, use a drop spreader or broadcast spreader to distribute seed across the entire planting area. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 18 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spreader

• silent spreader
• super-spreader

Kids Definition

spreader

noun

spread·​er ˈspred-ər 

: one that spreads: as

a

: an implement for scattering material

b

: a small knife used especially for spreading butter