span

/spæn/

/spæn/

Other forms: spanned; spans; spanning

Any distance between two things is called a span. These end points can be physical, like the span of a rope between two trees, or they can be more abstract, such as the span of time between five and six o'clock.

Span comes from the Old English spann, the width of the stretched-out hand, measured from thumb to little finger. It came to refer to various other measurements, such as the distance across an arch. The first reference to a length of time came in the late 16th century, and the phrase "attention span" first appeared in 1922 (as "span of attention").

Definitions of span

1. noun

   the distance or interval between two points
   type of:

   distance

   the property created by the space between two objects or points
2. noun

   a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
   synonyms: bridge

   types:

   Bailey bridge

   a temporary bridge designed for rapid construction

   cantilever bridge

   bridge constructed of two cantilevers that meet in the middle

   cattle grid, cattle guard

   a bridge over a ditch consisting of parallel metal bars that allow pedestrians and vehicles to pass, but not cattle

   covered bridge

   a bridge whose passageway is protected by a roof and enclosing sides

   drawbridge, lift bridge

   a bridge that can be raised to block passage or to allow boats or ships to pass beneath it

   footbridge, overcrossing, pedestrian bridge

   a bridge designed for pedestrians

   flyover, overpass

   bridge formed by the upper level of a crossing of two highways at different levels

   bateau bridge, floating bridge, pontoon bridge

   a temporary bridge built over a series of pontoons

   rope bridge

   a bridge consisting of ropes

   steel arch bridge

   a steel bridge constructed in the form of an arch

   suspension bridge

   a bridge that has a roadway supported by cables that are anchored at both ends

   toll bridge

   a bridge where toll is charged for crossing

   trestle bridge

   a bridge supported by trestlework

   truss bridge

   a bridge supported by trusses

   viaduct

   bridge consisting of a series of arches supported by piers used to carry a road (or railroad) over a valley

   gangboard, gangplank, gangway

   a temporary bridge for getting on and off a vessel at dockside

   jet bridge

   an extendible bridge for loading passengers onto large commercial airplanes; provides protected access to the plane from the gate

   type of:

   construction, structure

   a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
3. noun

   a unit of length based on the width of the expanded human hand (usually taken as 9 inches)
   type of:

   linear measure, linear unit

   a unit of measurement of length
4. noun

   the complete duration of something
   “the job was finished in the span of an hour”

   types:

   attention span

   the length of time you can concentrate on some idea or activity

   type of:

   continuance, duration

   the period of time during which something continues
5. noun

   the act of sitting or standing astride
   synonyms: straddle

   type of:

   motility, motion, move, movement

   a change of position that does not entail a change of location
6. verb

   cover or extend over an area or time period
   “"Rivers traverse the valley floor", "The parking lot spans 3 acres”

   “The novel spans three centuries”

   synonyms: cross, sweep, traverse

   type of:

   continue, cover, extend

   span an interval of distance, space or time
7. noun

   two items of the same kind
   synonyms: brace, couple, couplet, distich, duad, duet, duo, dyad, pair, twain, twosome, yoke

   types:

   doubleton

   (bridge) a pair of playing cards that are the only cards in their suit in the hand dealt to a player

   type of:

   2, II, deuce, two

   the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number