What is the meaning of spread-eagle?

verb

  • Stretch out completely.
    • usage: "They spread-eagled him across the floor"
  • Stretch over.
    • usage: "His residences spread-eagle the entire county"
  • Execute a spread eagle on skates, with arms and legs stretched out.
  • Stand with arms and legs spread out.
  • Defeat disastrously.

adjective

  • With arms and legs stretched out and apart.
    • usage: "lay spread-eagle on the floor"
WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University
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APAWordNet. (2010). spread-eagle. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/spread-eagle/definitions/1184200
ChicagoWordNet. 2010. "spread-eagle" http://smartdefine.org/spread-eagle/definitions/1184200 (accessed September 20, 2026).
HarvardWordNet 2010, spread-eagle, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/spread-eagle/definitions/1184200>.
MLAWordNet. "spread-eagle" 23 October 2010. Web. 20 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/spread-eagle/definitions/1184200>
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