splay

1 of 3

verb

ˈsplā 

splayed; splaying; splays

transitive verb

1

: to cause to spread outward

2

: to make oblique : bevel

intransitive verb

1

: to extend apart or outward especially in an awkward manner

2

: slope, slant

splay

2 of 3

noun

1

: a slope or bevel especially of the sides of a door or window

2

: spread, expansion

splay

3 of 3

adjective

1

: turned outward

splay knees

2

: awkward, ungainly

Examples of splay in a Sentence

Verb

He sat with his legs splayed apart.

She splayed her fingers to show off her manicure.

His fingers splayed out over the table as he steadied himself.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Across the street, the withered remains of three fighters, reduced to bones, were splayed among the debris. —Declan Walsh Ivor Prickett, New York Times, 5 June 2024

Still in the crisp black-and-white color scheme that marks the beginning passages of the film, Bella is alone in her bedroom, legs splayed, discovery rendered in those roving eyes. —Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024

Noun

For some people, simply switching shoes (and possibly ditching their socks) is enough to help their toes achieve proper splay. —Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024

In one inspirational photo, a large multicolored butterfly spans the entire seat of a vintage pair of Miss Sixty jeans, while in another, shiny silver flowers splay across a Dries van Noten jacket. —Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English splaien "to unfurl, spread out, spread-eagle, split (a fish) lengthwise and lay open," aphetic form of displaien "to unfurl (a banner), spread (the arms), display entry 1"

Noun

derivative of splay entry 1

Adjective

derivative of splay entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1508, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

splay

verb

ˈsplā

: to spread out or apart

a colt with legs splayed out