# spreader

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈspɹɛdɚ/ · frequency rank #45,097

## Definitions
1. An object or person who spreads.
2. A spacer or device for keeping two objects apart.
3. A device used to spread bulk material.
4. A knife or spatula used to distribute a substance such as butter or jelly.
5. A horizontal athwartships spar attached to the mast of a sailboat in order to extend the shrouds away from the mast.
6. A machine for combining and drawing fibers of flax to form a sliver preparatory to spinning.
7. The moving platform of a container crane.
8. A member of a cracking group who distributes warez.

## Etymology
From spread + -er.

## Easily confused with
- **streamer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spreader-vs-streamer)
- **spread** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spread-vs-spreader)
- **speaker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/speaker-vs-spreader)
- **spender** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spender-vs-spreader)
- **sprayer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sprayer-vs-spreader)
- **shredder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shredder-vs-spreader)
- **screamer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/screamer-vs-spreader)

## Common misspellings (12)
`psreader`, `sperader`, `sppreader`, `spraeder`, `spreadder`, `spreaderr`, `spreadre`, `spreaedr`, `spredaer`, `sprreader`, `srpeader`, `sspreader`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/spreader