span
SPAN
/spæn/
The full extent of something from end to end; the distance between two supports of a bridge.
In engineering, it specifically refers to the unsupported length between two piers or abutments.
The story behind the word. Derived from an Old English word meaning to stretch or join. It originally referred to the distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully stretched.
Word relationships
- extent: Extent is more general; span is often used for bridges or time periods.
Commonly confused with
- width: Width is the measurement from side to side; span is the measurement from support to support.
Collocations
- bridge span
- attention span
- life span
- span the gap
Idioms & expressions
- span the globe
Example sentences
- "The bridge has a main span of over 1,000 meters." Engineering
- "Her career spanned three decades and four continents." General
Memory hook
Think of a bridge 'spanning' across a river like a hand stretching from bank to bank. Stretch across.
When not to use
Avoid using it for height; it almost always refers to horizontal distance or time.
Fun facts
- A 'span' was an actual unit of measurement in the past, equal to about 9 inches.
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