spread-eagle

C2+ Topic:Word Formation & Derivatives

US /ˈsprɛdˌiːɡəl/ UK /ˈsprɛdˌiːɡəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #103403

Meanings

1

noun
a representation of an eagle with its wings and legs extended

A painted spread-eagle occupied the center of the old sign.
2

adj
positioned with the arms and legs stretched widely apart

He landed spread-eagle on the soft grass.
3

adj
dated, especially US: bombastic or boastfully patriotic in style

The speaker delivered a spread-eagle tribute to national greatness.
4

verb
to stretch or place with the arms and legs spread apart

The guards spread-eagled the suspect against the wall during the search.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a representation of an... displayed eagle

2 adj · positioned with the arms... splayed

3 adj · dated, especially us:... bombastic boastful

4 verb · to stretch or place with... splay

Opposites

curled up

Word family

Derived forms spread-eagledspread-eagling

Related forms eagle splay

Etymology

From the heraldic spread eagle, an eagle shown with wings and legs extended. The dated bombastic sense developed in the United States from the eagle as a national emblem.

Topics

Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style General Vocabulary

External links

# spread-eagle

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun, adj, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈsprɛdˌiːɡəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsprɛdˌiːɡəl/
**Frequency rank:** 103403

## Meanings
1. a representation of an eagle with its wings and legs extended
2. positioned with the arms and legs stretched widely apart
3. dated, especially US: bombastic or boastfully patriotic in style
4. to stretch or place with the arms and legs spread apart

## Examples
- A painted spread-eagle occupied the center of the old sign.
- He landed spread-eagle on the soft grass.
- The speaker delivered a spread-eagle tribute to national greatness.
- The guards spread-eagled the suspect against the wall during the search.

## Synonyms
- splayed

## Antonyms
- curled up

## Derived Forms
- spread-eagled
- spread-eagling

## Related Forms
- eagle
- splay

## Etymology
From the heraldic spread eagle, an eagle shown with wings and legs extended. The dated bombastic sense developed in the United States from the eagle as a national emblem.

## Topics
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style
- General Vocabulary

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