How Do You Spell SPAN?

Pronunciation: [spˈan] (IPA)

The word "span" is spelled with the letters s-p-a-n. Its IPA phonetic transcription is /spæn/. The first sound in "span" is the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/, followed by the sound /p/, which is a voiceless bilabial plosive. The third sound is /æ/, a short vowel sound pronounced with the tongue low and towards the front of the mouth. Finally, the word ends with the sound /n/, a voiced alveolar nasal consonant.

SPAN Meaning and Definition

  1. Span (noun):

    1. A measurement indicating the extent or distance between two ends or points. It refers to the full length, extent, or duration from one end to the other. For example, the span of a bridge is the distance between the two supports or pillars that hold it up.

    2. The length or duration of time that something or someone exists or endures. It can refer to the lifespan, the time period during which a living being is alive, or the duration of an inanimate object's functionality and usefulness.

    3. The maximum limit or extent within which something can occur or be effective. For instance, the span of someone's attention refers to the length of time they can concentrate or focus on something before becoming distracted.

    4. The width or extent of something, such as a person's outstretched hand, wings, or similar parts. For example, the wingspan of a bird indicates the distance between the tips of its extended wings.

    5. In architecture, the horizontal distance or projection between two supports, walls, or columns that carries or distributes weight or load, especially in the construction of arches or vaults.

    6. The ability to stretch, reach, or extend over a particular area or distance.

  2. • The space between the end of the thumb and the fingers when extended, usually reckoned 9 in.; the spread of an arch; short duration; a yoke of oxen.
    • To measure by the hand with the fingers extended, or by encompassing the object; to spread from one side to another, as an arch; to fetter, as a horse.
    • Pt. of spin, which see.
    • Did spin.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for SPAN *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for SPAN

Etymology of SPAN

The word "span" has various etymological origins depending on the context. Here are a few possible etymologies for different senses of the word:

1. As a noun referring to a measurement of distance:

- From Old English "spann", derived from Proto-Germanic "spannō" meaning "a span" or "the distance between the thumb and little finger when the hand is extended".

- From Proto-Indo-European "spe-", which means "to pull", and is also the origin of words like "expand" and "expense".

2. As a noun referring to a period of time:

- From Old Norse "spann" meaning "a length of time", related to the verb "spenna" meaning "to stretch out".

Idioms with the word SPAN

  • spic and span The idiom "spic and span" means extremely clean and tidy. It refers to something that has been organized and polished to the highest level of cleanliness and neatness.
  • be spick and span The idiom "be spick and span" refers to something that is extremely clean, tidy, and well-organized.
  • spick and span The idiom "spick and span" refers to something that is extremely clean, neat, and well-organized. It is used to describe something that has been completely cleaned and tidied up, leaving no trace of dirt or disorder.

Similar spelling words for SPAN

Plural form of SPAN is SPANS

Conjugate verb Span

CONDITIONAL

I would span
you would span
he/she/it would span
we would span
they would span

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be spanning
you would be spanning
he/she/it would be spanning
we would be spanning
they would be spanning

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have span
you would have span
he/she/it would have span
we would have span
they would have span

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been spanning
you would have been spanning
he/she/it would have been spanning
we would have been spanning
they would have been spanning

FUTURE

I will span
you will span
he/she/it will span
we will span
they will span

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be spanning
you will be spanning
he/she/it will be spanning
we will be spanning
they will be spanning

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have spanned
you will have spanned
he/she/it will have spanned
we will have spanned
they will have spanned

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been spanning
you will have been spanning
he/she/it will have been spanning
we will have been spanning
they will have been spanning

IMPERATIVE

you span
we let´s span

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to span

PAST

I spanned
you spanned
he/she/it spanned
we spanned
they spanned

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was spanning
you were spanning
he/she/it was spanning
we were spanning
they were spanning

PAST PARTICIPLE

spanned

PAST PERFECT

I had spanned
you had spanned
he/she/it had spanned
we had spanned
they had spanned

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been spanning
you had been spanning
he/she/it had been spanning
we had been spanning
they had been spanning

PRESENT

I span
you span
he/she/it spans
we span
they span

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am spanning
you are spanning
he/she/it is spanning
we are spanning
they are spanning

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

spanning

PRESENT PERFECT

I have spanned
you have spanned
he/she/it has spanned
we have spanned
they have spanned

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been spanning
you have been spanning
he/she/it has been spanning
we have been spanning
they have been spanning
I would have spanned
we would have spanned
you would have spanned
he/she/it would have spanned
they would have spanned

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