The extent or measure of space between two points or extremities, as of a bridge or roof; the breadth, The distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully extended, formerly used as a unit of measure equal to about 9 inches (23 centimeters), a common roof, having two slopes and one ridge, with eaves on both sides, intransitive verb_ United States To be matched, as horses, transitive verb_ To extend across in space or time, To encircle or cover with the hand or hands, To measure in spans