Sprawled

Sprawled
Sprawl Sprawl (spr[add]l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sprawled} (spr[add]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Sprawling}.] [OE. spraulen; cf. Sw. sprattla to sprawl, dial. Sw. spralla, Dan. spr[ae]lle, spr[ae]lde, D. spartelen, spertelen, to flounder, to struggle.] 1. To spread and stretch the body or limbs carelessly in a horizontal position; to lie with the limbs stretched out ungracefully. [1913 Webster]

2. To spread irregularly, as vines, plants, or trees; to spread ungracefully, as chirography. [1913 Webster]

3. To move, when lying down, with awkward extension and motions of the limbs; to scramble in creeping. [1913 Webster]

The birds were not fledged; but upon sprawling and struggling to get clear of the flame, down they tumbled. --L'Estrange. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • sprawled — UK [sprɔːld] US [sprɔld] adjective lying or sitting with your arms and legs stretched out in different directions in a relaxed or careless way Two dogs were lying sprawled in front of the fire. Thesaurus: in a lying positionsynonym in a standing… …   Useful english dictionary

  • sprawled — [spro:ld US spro:ld] adj [not before noun] be/lie/sit sprawled (out) to be lying or sitting with your arms or legs stretched out in a lazy or careless way ▪ He was sprawled in an armchair in front of the TV. ▪ A girl lay sprawled across the bed …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • sprawled — [[t]sprɔ͟ːld[/t]] ADJ: v link ADJ, ADJ after v If you are sprawled somewhere, you are sitting or lying with your legs and arms spread out in a careless way. People are sprawled on makeshift beds in the cafeteria... Rolando lay sprawled on his… …   English dictionary

  • sprawled — UK [sprɔːld] / US [sprɔld] adjective lying or sitting with your arms and legs stretched out in different directions in a relaxed or careless way Two dogs were lying sprawled in front of the fire …   English dictionary

  • sprawled — sprɔːl n. act of sprawling, act of lounging; area characterized by irregularly arranged buildings v. stretch out one s legs and arms in a relaxed manner (while sitting or lying); spread out, extend …   English contemporary dictionary

  • sprawl — verb ADVERB ▪ lazily ▪ out ▪ He was sprawled out on the sofa. PREPOSITION ▪ across, in, on …   Collocations dictionary

  • sprawl — [[t]sprɔ͟ːl[/t]] sprawls, sprawling, sprawled 1) VERB If you sprawl somewhere, you sit or lie down with your legs and arms spread out in a careless way. → See also sprawled [V prep/adv] She sprawled on the bed as he had left her, not even moving… …   English dictionary

  • Crocodilia — Filozoa Crocodilians Temporal range: Cretaceous Recent, 84–0 Ma …   Wikipedia

  • reptile — reptilelike, adj. reptiloid /rep tl oyd /, adj. /rep til, tuyl/, n. 1. any cold blooded vertebrate of the class Reptilia, comprising the turtles, snakes, lizards, crocodilians, amphisbaenians, tuatara, and various extinct members including the… …   Universalium

  • sprawl — 1 verb also sprawl out (intransitive always + adv/prep) 1 to lie or sit with your arms or legs stretched out in a lazy or careless way (+ in/on etc): He just sprawls out in his chair and expects me to bring his dinner. | be sprawled out: The… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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