sprawl
/sprɔːl/ (bre, ipa) · /sprɔːl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsprȯl/ (ame, mw) · /sprɑːl/ (ame, ipa)
sprawl — verb
- sprawlpresent simple I / you / we / they
- sprawlshe / she / it
- sprawledpast simple
- sprawling-ing form
1. of a person: to relax in a sitting or lying position with limbs stretched loosel
of a person: to relax in a sitting or lying position with limbs stretched loosely away from the body
After a long hike, Sahil sprawled on the grass beside the trail.
intransitive + location phrase: sprawl on [surface]
The cat sprawled across the sofa, taking up the whole seat.
Jisoo sprawled in the armchair with her legs hanging over one side.
Nellie was sprawled on the floor surrounded by textbooks and notes.
- loll
less common; implies a more relaxed, drooping posture
- spread out
less specific; can describe any kind of spreading without the lazy/careless feeling
- sit up straight
implies an upright, tidy posture
文法句型
sprawl + preposition/location (on/in/across)
用法筆記
Often used with a phrase that describes where the person is sitting or lying (on the sofa, across the bed, in the armchair).
常見錯誤
2. if a city, town, or built-up area sprawls, it spreads outward across land in a w
if a city, town, or built-up area sprawls, it spreads outward across land in a way that looks messy or unplanned, often covering a very large area
The city has sprawled outward for miles, covering the farmland.
intransitive + direction adverb: sprawl outward
New suburbs sprawl across the valley without any clear plan.
The town sprawled along the coast as more hotels were built each year.
Factories and warehouses sprawl over the area east of the highway.
Small villages had sprawled into a single busy suburban region by 2020.
- shrink
to become smaller in area
文法句型
sprawl + adverb/preposition (across/over/along/outward)
用法筆記
This sense carries a mildly negative tone, suggesting uncontrolled or messy growth. The related noun form urban sprawl is very common in discussions about town planning.
常見錯誤
sprawl — noun
- sprawlsingular
- sprawlsplural
1. a sitting or lying position in which your arms and legs are spread outward in a
a sitting or lying position in which your arms and legs are spread outward in a loose, careless way
James lay on his back in a relaxed sprawl, watching the clouds.
countable noun: a [adjective] sprawl
I woke up in a sprawl with one arm hanging off the bed.
The toddler fell asleep in a comfortable sprawl on the carpet.
Andrei sat in a lazy sprawl on the park bench, enjoying the afternoon sun.
- lounging position
more general; does not emphasize the spread limbs or careless quality
文法句型
a [adjective] sprawl
in a sprawl
用法筆記
Usually appears in the phrase 'in a sprawl' or 'in a [adjective] sprawl', describing someone's posture in a relaxed or careless situation.
2. the gradual and often poorly planned spread of buildings and houses across wide
the gradual and often poorly planned spread of buildings and houses across wide stretches of land, leaving a messy or disorderly result
Urban sprawl has covered most of the farmland around the town.
uncountable noun: urban sprawl
The sprawl of cheap housing stretches for miles beyond the city limits.
collocation: sprawl of [buildings]
Residents complain about the sprawl of shopping centres along the highway.
The sprawl makes it hard to walk anywhere in the area without a car.
- urban expansion
more neutral; does not carry the same negative judgment as 'sprawl'
- development
neutral or positive; can refer to planned building projects
- compact city
a city designed to grow densely rather than spread outward
文法句型
urban/suburban sprawl
sprawl of [buildings/developments]
用法筆記
Almost always used negatively, especially in discussions about city planning and the environment. 'Urban sprawl' is a fixed term in this field.