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sprawl
[ sprawl ]
verb (used without object)
- to be stretched or spread out in an unnatural or ungraceful manner:
The puppy's legs sprawled in all directions.
- to sit or lie in a relaxed position with the limbs spread out carelessly or ungracefully:
He sprawled across the bed.
- to spread out, extend, or be distributed in a straggling or irregular manner, as vines, buildings, handwriting, etc.
- to crawl awkwardly with the aid of all the limbs; scramble.
verb (used with object)
- to stretch out (the limbs) as in sprawling.
- to spread out or distribute in a straggling manner.
noun
- the act or an instance of sprawling; a sprawling posture.
- a straggling array of something.
sprawl
/ sprɔːl /
verb
- intr to sit or lie in an ungainly manner with one's limbs spread out
- to fall down or knock down with the limbs spread out in an ungainly way
- to spread out or cause to spread out in a straggling fashion
his handwriting sprawled all over the paper
noun
- the act or an instance of sprawling
- a sprawling posture or arrangement of items
- the urban area formed by the expansion of a town or city into surrounding countryside
the urban sprawl
- the process by which this has happened
Derived Forms
- ˈsprawler, noun
- ˈsprawly, adjective
Other Words From
- sprawler noun
- sprawling·ly adverb
Word History and Origins
Origin of sprawl1
Word History and Origins
Origin of sprawl1
Example Sentences
According to Shoup, this parking conundrum is foundational to many of the ills in modern urban life: congestion, sprawl, pollution and high housing costs.
A satellite limbo town, it is part of Paris' sprawl, but left out of the sell made around the world.
Green belts were established more than 70 years ago with five purposes, including restricting the sprawl of urban areas and protecting the countryside.
Seven hours and a cross-country trip later, I was sprawled on the bed in my Miami hotel room, exhausted from the dawn journey, embracing a nap such that I ignored my suddenly snarling smartphone.
I was born into this sprawled city and love it fiercely.
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