splay (spl )adj.1. Spread or turned out. 2. Clumsy or clumsily formed; awkward. n. Architecture An oblique angle or bevel given to the sides of an opening in a wall so that the opening is wider on one side of the wall than on the other. v. splayed, splay·ing, splays v.tr.1. To spread (the limbs, for example) out or apart, especially clumsily. 2. To make slanting or sloping; bevel. 3. To dislocate (a bone). Used of an animal. v.intr.1. To be spread out or apart. 2. To slant or slope.
[From Middle English splayen, to spread out, short for displayen; see display.] |
splay Verb
to spread out, with ends spreading out in different directions: her hair splayed over the pillow [short for display]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | splay - an outward bevel around a door or window that makes it seem largerbevel, chamfer, cant - two surfaces meeting at an angle different from 90 degrees |
| Verb | 1. | splay - spread open or apart; "He splayed his huge hands over the table" |
| 2. | splay - turn outward; "These birds can splay out their toes"; "ballet dancers can rotate their legs out by 90 degrees"turn - change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense; "Turn towards me"; "The mugger turned and fled before I could see his face"; "She turned from herself and learned to listen to others' needs" |
| 3. | splay - move out of position; "dislocate joints"; "the artificial hip joint luxated and had to be put back surgically"move, displace - cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense; "Move those boxes into the corner, please"; "I'm moving my money to another bank"; "The director moved more responsibilities onto his new assistant" |
| Adj. | 1. | splay - turned outward in an ungainly manner; "splay knees" |