verb

sprawl

to sprawl, to spread out

The cat was sprawling on the sunny rug.

The cat was sprawling on the sunny rug.

The city sprawls for miles along the coast.

The city sprawls for miles along the coast.

((sb./sth.)) to sprawl (on/across sth.) to lie or sit with your arms and legs spread out He was sprawling on the sofa.

((sth.)) to sprawl (out/across sth.) to spread over a large area in an untidy way The suburbs sprawl out from the city center.

Synonyms: spread, stretch out, extend

From Old English 'spreawlian' (to move convulsively).

Imagine a spider 'sprawling' its legs out as it crawls.

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