TOP

Definition of span noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

span

noun
 
/spæn/
 
/spæn/
jump to other results
  1. the length of time that something lasts or is able to continue
    • I worked with him over a span of six years.
    • The project must be completed within a specific time span.
    • a study of the entire span of Arab history
    see also attention span, lifespan
    Extra Examples
    • The book covers the entire span of Arab history.
    • The speech continued well beyond its allotted span.
    • to prolong life beyond its natural span
    • I worked with him several times over a span of six years.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • long
    • brief
    • short
    verb + span
    • cover
    preposition
    • over a/​the span
    phrases
    • a span of time
    • a span of years
    See full entry
  2. span (of something) a range or variety of something
    • Managers have a wide span of control.
    • These forests cover a broad span of latitudes.
    Extra Examples
    • Managers have a wide span of responsibilities.
    • a broad span of interests
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • full
    • broad
    • wide
    See full entry
  3. the part of a bridge or an arch between one support and another
    • The bridge crosses the river in a single span.
    Topics Buildingsc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • full
    • broad
    • wide
    See full entry
  4. the measurement of something from one side to the other
    • The kite has a span of 1.5 metres.
    see also wingspan
    Extra Examples
    • The bridge has 10 arches, each of a 30-foot span.
    • The bridge has a clear span of 120 feet.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • full
    • broad
    • wide
    See full entry
  5. Word OriginOld English, ‘distance between the tips of the thumb and little finger’, of Germanic origin; reinforced in Middle English by Old French espan.
See span in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee span in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
previously
adverb
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 3000
B1
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day