Outspread means stretched out wide or extended fully in different directions. When a bird soars through the sky with its wings outspread, they're extended as far as they'll go, catching the air. When you lie on your back making snow angels with your arms and legs outspread, you're stretching them out as wide as possible.

The word describes things that open up or expand from a central point. A peacock displays its outspread tail feathers in a magnificent fan. An oak tree might have outspread branches reaching in all directions. You might see a map lying outspread across a table, unfolded and flat so you can see the whole thing at once.

Outspread suggests fullness and openness, like someone greeting you with outspread arms ready for a hug, or a picnic blanket outspread on the grass. The word captures that moment when something goes from folded or closed to fully open and extended.