splay

Meanings

1. To spread, spread apart, or spread out (something); to expand.
2. To construct a bevel or slope on (something, such as the frame or jamb of a door or window); to bevel, to slant, to slope.
3. To rearrange (a splay tree) so that a desired element is placed at the root.
4. To dislocate (a body part such as a shoulder bone).
5. To unfurl or unroll (a banner or flag).
6. To have, or lie in, an oblique or slanted position.
7. To spread out awkwardly; to sprawl.

1. Oblique, slanted.
2. Turned outward; spread out.
3. Crooked, distorted, out of place.

1. In an oblique or slanted manner; obliquely, slantedly.
2. Of walking, etc.: with the feet turned outwards; in a splayfooted manner.

1. An outward spread of an object such as a bowl or cup.
2. A bevel, slant, or slope, especially of the frame or jamb of a door or window, by which an opening is made larger at one face of the wall than at the other, or larger at each of the faces than it is between them.
3. The amount of such a bevel, slant, or slope.
4. A widening of a minor road where it forms a junction with a major road to ensure that the view of traffic on the major road by drivers on the minor road is not obstructed.
5. The view to the left or right which a driver on a minor road has of traffic on the major road; also, a plan showing this.

1. Synonym of spay (“to destroy or remove the ovaries and/or uterus (of a female animal) to prevent pregnancy”).

Etymology

PIE word *dwís The verb is derived from Middle English splaien, splayen (“to display; to spread out, unfurl (a flag, etc.); (cooking) to cut open (a fish) lengthwise and lay it open; (figurative) to appear; to spread”), an aphetic form of Middle English displaien, displayen (“to display”): see display. The adjective and adverb are derived from the verb, or from splayfoot (noun) or splayfooted (adjective). The noun is derived from the verb.

Translations