spreader — English Dictionary

Noun

1. An object or person who spreads.

2. A spacer or device for keeping two objects apart.

3. A device used to spread bulk material.

   Examples

   Ellen put grass seed on the lawn with a seed spreader.

4. A knife or spatula used to distribute a substance such as butter or jelly.

   Examples

   James used a spreader to butter her bagel.

5. A horizontal athwartships spar attached to the mast of a sailboat in order to extend the shrouds away from the mast.

6. A machine for combining and drawing fibers of flax to form a sliver preparatory to spinning.

7. The moving platform of a container crane.

8. A horizontal bar or frame attached to two or more points on a load, enabling the load to be lifted, especially by crane, with greater stability and more even spread of forces.

9. A member of a cracking group who distributes warez.

   Usage

   • Slang

   Examples

   Spreaders uploaded the games to an online BBS to distribute the games as quickly as possible to as many people as possible.

Noun

1. a hand tool for spreading something

   Broader terms

   hand tool

   Examples

   he used his knife as a spreader

2. a mechanical device for scattering something (seed or fertilizer or sand etc.) in all directions

   Synonyms

   broadcaster

   Broader terms

   mechanical device