SPRAWL Definition & Meaning

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sprawl

[ sprawl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used without object)

to be stretched or spread out in an unnatural or ungraceful manner:
The puppy's legs sprawled in all directions.
to sit or lie in a relaxed position with the limbs spread out carelessly or ungracefully:
He sprawled across the bed.
to spread out, extend, or be distributed in a straggling or irregular manner, as vines, buildings, handwriting, etc.
Synonyms: ,
to crawl awkwardly with the aid of all the limbs; scramble.

verb (used with object)

to stretch out (the limbs) as in sprawling.
to spread out or distribute in a straggling manner.

noun

the act or an instance of sprawling; a sprawling posture.
a straggling array of something.

sprawl

/ ��ɔː�� /

verb

intr to sit or lie in an ungainly manner with one's limbs spread out
to fall down or knock down with the limbs spread out in an ungainly way
to spread out or cause to spread out in a straggling fashion
his handwriting sprawled all over the paper

noun

the act or an instance of sprawling
a sprawling posture or arrangement of items
1. the urban area formed by the expansion of a town or city into surrounding countryside
  the urban sprawl
2. the process by which this has happened

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Derived Forms

ˈ��ɱ��, noun
ˈ��ɱ��, adjective

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Other �y��vlog Forms

��ɱ�İ� noun
��ɱ�i�Բ�·�� adverb

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of sprawl¹

before 1000; Middle English spraulen to move awkwardly, Old English spreawlian; cognate with Frisian (N dial.) spraweli

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of sprawl¹

Old English spreawlian; related to Old English spryttan to sprout, spurt , Greek speirein to scatter

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“We aren’t just reducing bureaucratic sprawl,” the Health secretary said in a statement.

From

Councils will also be ordered to review green belt boundaries - which were created to prevent urban sprawl - by identifying lower-quality "grey belt" land that can be built on.

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According to Shoup, this parking conundrum is foundational to many of the ills in modern urban life: congestion, sprawl, pollution and high housing costs.

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A satellite limbo town, it is part of Paris' sprawl, but left out of the sell made around the world.

From

Green belts were established more than 70 years ago with five purposes, including restricting the sprawl of urban areas and protecting the countryside.

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