to spread
verb/ɐ.lɐʃ.ˈtɾaɾ/medium
a·las·trar
Definition
To spread or propagate extensively and rapidly (usually for something undesirable, like fire, disease, rumor).
The fire began to spread through the forest.
The epidemic spread across several regions.
Common collocations
spread rapidlyspread across the countryspread the firespread the rumor
Idiomatic expressions
- To spread like wildfire. (to propagate very quickly)
Etymology
Do árabe 'al-istara' (espalhar-se).