SPLAY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does splay mean? 

• SPLAY (noun)
  The noun SPLAY has 1 sense:

1. an outward bevel around a door or window that makes it seem larger

  Familiarity information: SPLAY used as a noun is very rare.

• SPLAY (adjective)
  The adjective SPLAY has 1 sense:

1. turned outward in an ungainly manner

  Familiarity information: SPLAY used as an adjective is very rare.

• SPLAY (verb)
  The verb SPLAY has 3 senses:

1. spread open or apart

2. turn outward

3. move out of position

  Familiarity information: SPLAY used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPLAY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An outward bevel around a door or window that makes it seem larger

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("splay" is a kind of...):

bevel; cant; chamfer (two surfaces meeting at an angle different from 90 degrees)

• SPLAY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Turned outward in an ungainly manner

Context example:

splay knees

Similar:

splayfoot; splayfooted (having feet that turn outward)

• SPLAY (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they splay    ... he / she / it splays   
Past simple: splayed   
Past participle: splayed   
-ing form: splaying   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Spread open or apart

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

He splayed his huge hands over the table

Hypernyms (to "splay" is one way to...):

open; spread; spread out; unfold (spread out or open from a closed or folded state)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Turn outward

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

rotate; splay; spread out; turn out

Context example:

ballet dancers can rotate their legs out by 90 degrees

Hypernyms (to "splay" is one way to...):

turn (change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Move out of position

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

dislocate; luxate; slip; splay

Context example:

the artificial hip joint luxated and had to be put back surgically

Hypernyms (to "splay" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

Splay hoofs and palmated antlers they knew, and they flung their customary patience and caution to the wind.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

If I had been obliged to look at him with him splay foot on Mr. Wickfield's head, I think I could scarcely have hated him more.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It is characterized by multiple basal cell carcinomas at a young age, odontogenic keratocysts, and skeletal defects (bifurcated and splayed ribs, fusion of vertebrae, spinal bifida).

(Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

He would bark and dance about in front of the bull, just out of reach of the great antlers and of the terrible splay hoofs which could have stamped his life out with a single blow.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Seeing that what he said had no effect on me or any of us, he sat on the edge of his table with his hands in his pockets, and one of his splay feet twisted round the other leg, waiting doggedly for what might follow.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)