armspan

Full horizontal reach

Armspan is the distance from fingertip to fingertip when both arms are extended horizontally.

It roughly equals a person's height and serves as a natural unit of measurement: The fish was about half my armspan.

Also called wingspan when describing birds or aircraft.

measurement

wingspan

Tip-to-tip extent

lengthMeasure of extent
reachExtend to touch
fathomNautical depth unit

breadth · width · extent · proportion · dimension · tape · ruler · caliper · gauge · yardstick

reach

stretch

Pull to extend

extensionAdded part or duration
graspSeize or understand
embraceHold closely in arms

range · sweep · expanse · radius · scope · accessibility · coverage · spread · outstretched · barrier

anatomy

wingspan

Tip-to-tip extent

limbJointed bodily projection
shoulderUpper arm joint
torsoBody without limbs

proportion · skeleton · bone · humerus · ulna · radius · clavicle · joint · muscle · flexibility

Categories

body measurescubit, hand, fathom, foot, digit

Opposites

bodily measurement orientation

armspanheight

Vertical extent upward

stature · standing height · leg length · inseam · body length

Family

arm, arms, span, armpit, armful, spans, armlet, spanning, armless

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G