spans
Stretches from end
Spans covers distances or durations.
A bridge spans a river; a career spans decades.
The span of something is its full extent: the span of human history, attention span, wing span.
A span was once a unit of measurement—the distance from thumb tip to pinky tip with fingers spread.
To span is also to encircle with the hands: He could span her waist with his fingers.
Load-bearing beam arrangement
- cantileverBeam supported one end
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
- viaductArched span crossing valleys
- aqueductChannel conveying water distances
arch · trestle · overpass · footbridge · girder · causeway · flyover · crossing
Measure of extent
- widthDistance across something
- distanceSpace between two points
- handspanWidth of outstretched hand
- reachExtend to touch
footage · meters · extent · dimension · size · spread · breadth · gap
Continuous range of values
- scopeExtent or range
- gamutFull range of something
- breadthExtent across something
- extentRange or magnitude
variety · diversity · sweep · compass · array · continuum · coverage · cross-section
truss
Load-bearing beam arrangement
- cantileverBeam supported one end
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
- viaductArched span crossing valleys
aqueduct · arch · trestle · overpass · footbridge · girder · causeway · flyover · crossing · cable-stayed
length
Measure of extent
reach · footage · meters · extent · dimension · size · spread · breadth · gap · clearance
spectrum
Continuous range of values
extent · variety · diversity · sweep · compass · array · continuum · coverage · cross-section · spread
lifetime
Duration of existence
- careerLifelong occupational pursuit
- generationsPeople born around same time
- decadesTen-year periods
centuries · millennia · eons · epochs · eras · ages · years · seasons · tenure · reign
arches
Weight-bearing curved spans
lintel · buttress · column · pillar · corbel · spandrel · springing · soffit · centering · masonry
- structural analysisbeams, trusses, frames, deflection, shear force
- measurementsheight, stature, meters, depth, pound
- timelinestimelines, chronology, chronologies, time periods, historical periods
- flyoversoverpasses, viaducts, flypast, interchange, bypasses
- Marblesshooter, shooters, taw, cat's eye, steelies
- ancient engineeringarches, aqueducts, bridges, masonry, foundations
spansinstant
Briefest unit of time
moment · flash · split second · fleeting moment · instantaneous
spansfalls short
Fails to meet standard
misses · gaps · leaves out · excludes · omits
- attention spanConcentration time limit
- life spanTotal years of existence
- spick and spanCompletely clean and orderly
- short attention spanInability to sustain focus
- thrown a spanner in the worksDeliberately caused malfunction
- spic and spanPerfectly clean, brand-new looking
span, lifespan, lifespans, wingspan, wingspans, timespan, spanner, spanning, spanned