span
gb/spˈæn/ us/spˈæn/
B1
English
~ 6700
időtartam, időszak, fesztávolság, fesztáv, átível, átfeszül, áthidal, tart, felölel, átfog, tartomány, skála, ív, figyelmi idő, arasz, lineáris burkolat, generált altér
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
a span of [time]
The project was completed in a span of six months.
A projekt hat hónap alatt készült el.
Over the span of ten years, the town doubled in size.
Tíz év leforgása alatt a város kétszeresére nőtt.
Her mood changed several times within a short span of time.
The law has evolved over a long span of history.
In the span of a few minutes, the sky turned dark.
Learner examples
He learned English in a span of two years.
Két év alatt megtanult angolul.
Prices went up a lot in a short span of time.
Az árak rövid idő alatt sokat emelkedtek.
The team grew stronger over a span of three seasons.
We will study this topic over a span of four weeks.
Many things can change in the span of one year.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes add an unnecessary preposition and say *"in a span of time of three years"* instead of the more natural *"in a span of three years"*. They may also confuse "span" with "spam" (unrelated) in spelling.
Meaning
a period or length of time
Collocations
a short span
|a long span
|a brief span
|over a span of years
|a span of time
|within a short span
Synonyms
period (A general word for a length of time; does not focus on having clear start and end points as strongly as "span" often does.)
|
stretch (Informal; suggests a continuous length of time, often with some difficulty or effort.)
Antonyms
moment (Refers to a very short point in time, contrasting with a longer, measurable span.)
Themes
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A length of time from one moment to another.
A continuous period or length of time between two points in time.
NOUN
B2
2
fesztávolság
B2
fesztáv
C1
Usage pattern:
the span of [something]
The bridge has a main span of 500 meters.
A híd fő fesztávolsága 500 méter.
The wingspan of the eagle is an impressive two meters.
A sas szárnyfesztávolsága lenyűgöző: két méter.
Engineers checked the span of the arch for signs of stress.
A single span supports the road across the valley.
They measured the span between the two support columns.
Learner examples
The span of the bridge is very long.
A híd fesztávja nagyon nagy.
They built a new span over the river.
Új hídszakaszt építettek a folyó fölé.
The span of the arch is ten meters.
The bird’s wing span is almost one meter.
We walked across the whole span of the bridge.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse "span" (the covered distance) with "gap" (the empty space) and say *"a big gap of the bridge"* instead of *"a long span of the bridge"*.
Meaning
distance between two points
Collocations
bridge span
|the span of the bridge
|wing span
|a long span
|a single span
|span of the arch
Synonyms
width (A general term; "span" is often used for the total supporting distance or reach of a specific object like a bridge or a pair of wings.)
|
reach (Emphasizes how far something extends, not always in a strictly measured structural sense.)
Antonyms
gap (Refers to an empty space or break between two points, while "span" emphasizes a continuous distance that is covered or measured.)
Themes
space
|engineering
|technology
Definition
The full space or width from one side to the other, for example in a bridge or an arch.
The full distance or width between two points, especially the main support distance of a bridge, arch, or similar structure.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[something] spans [something]
A narrow footbridge spans the stream behind the house.
Egy keskeny gyaloghíd ível át a ház mögötti patak fölött.
High-voltage cables span the valley between the two hills.
Nagyfeszültségű kábelek feszülnek át a völgy fölött a két domb között.
The new highway spans the entire width of the island.
An old stone arch spans the entrance to the courtyard.
A glass roof spans the central hall of the museum.
Learner examples
The bridge spans the river.
A híd átível a folyó fölött.
A long rope spans the room.
Egy hosszú kötél feszül át a szobán.
Power lines span the field.
A metal bar spans the gap in the wall.
A large net spans the whole area.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes add a preposition and say *"the bridge spans over the river"*. In most cases, natural English is simply *"the bridge spans the river"* without "over".
Meaning
extend across an area
Collocations
bridge spans the river
|road spans the valley
|railway spans the gorge
|network spans the globe
|pipeline spans the desert
Synonyms
cross ("Cross" focuses on going from one side to the other; "span" often describes the static extent or reach of something, especially a structure.)
|
stretch across (More informal and descriptive; "span" is more compact and often used in technical or formal descriptions.)
Antonyms
stop short of (Describes not reaching the other side, opposite to fully spanning the distance between two points.)
Themes
space
|description
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go from one side or end to the other side or end of something.
To reach or extend from one side, point, or edge to another.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
[something] spans [a period of time]
Her teaching career spans more than thirty years.
Tanári pályája több mint harminc évet ölel fel.
The festival spans two full weeks in August.
A fesztivál augusztusban két teljes hétig tart.
His work spans the period from 1990 to 2010.
The agreement spans a three-year trial period.
The study spans four decades of climate data.
Learner examples
My job with this company spans ten years.
Már tíz éve dolgozom ennél a cégnél.
The show spans three seasons on TV.
A tévésorozat három évadot ölel fel.
The course spans six months.
His research spans many years.
The project spans the whole summer.
Common mistake:
Learners may say *"span for"* (e.g. *"the program spans for two years"*). In standard English we usually say *"the program spans two years"* without a preposition, or use "lasts for" instead.
Meaning
last or continue over time
Collocations
span several years
|span a decade
|span generations
|career spans three decades
|history spans centuries
Synonyms
last (More common and general; "span" often suggests neatly covering the whole length of the period.)
|
cover (Can sound more technical; "span" is often used for neutral description of time range.)
Antonyms
end (Refers to stopping at a point in time, which is opposite to the idea of continuing over a period.)
Themes
time
|history
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To last for a certain length of time.
To continue, cover, or extend over a particular period of time.
NOUN
B2
5
Usage pattern:
the span of [something abstract]
The course covers the full span of human development from childhood to old age.
A kurzus az emberi fejlődés teljes ívét átfogja, a gyermekkortól az időskorig.
Managers often struggle with a very wide span of control.
A vezetőknek gyakran gondot okoz a túl széles irányítási hatókör.
The book explores the entire span of her artistic career.
His work shows a remarkable span of styles and techniques.
Our clients come from a broad span of industries.
Learner examples
The book looks at the full span of his life.
A könyv az életének teljes ívét mutatja be.
She has a wide span of interests.
Széles az érdeklődési köre.
The job gives him a large span of control.
The study covers a long span of history.
We serve a broad span of customers.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only "range" and do not realize that "span" often sounds more natural in fixed phrases like "span of control" or "the full span of his life".
Meaning
full range or extent
Collocations
the full span of
|a wide span of interests
|span of control
|span of experience
|span of knowledge
Synonyms
range (Very close in meaning; "span" often sounds more formal or measured and can suggest clear end points.)
|
scope (Highlights how much is included; "span" is more neutral and focuses on extent from one end to the other.)
Antonyms
limit (Focuses on a single boundary rather than the full distance or coverage between boundaries, opposite to a full span.)
Themes
general
|business
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The whole range of something from one end or limit to the other.
The complete range or extent of something between its smallest and largest, earliest and latest, or otherwise opposite limits.
NOUN
B2
6
figyelmi idő
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone's] attention span
Many teachers worry about their students’ short attention span.
Sok tanár aggódik amiatt, hogy a diákjaik figyelmi ideje rövid.
His attention span is too limited for long meetings.
A figyelmi ideje túl rövid a hosszú megbeszélésekhez.
The video is designed for viewers with a brief attention span.
Reading can help improve a child’s attention span.
My attention span drops quickly when I am tired.
Learner examples
My attention span is very short.
Nagyon rövid a figyelmi időm.
Young children often have a short attention span.
A kisgyerekek figyelmi ideje gyakran rövid.
This class is hard for my attention span.
Games can help students build a longer attention span.
Her long attention span helps her study for many hours.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"time of attention"* or *"focus time"* instead of the natural phrase "attention span".
Meaning
time someone can stay focused
Collocations
short attention span
|limited attention span
|long attention span
|average attention span
|children’s attention span
Synonyms
concentration span (Less common but more explicit; directly mentions concentration rather than general attention.)
Antonyms
distraction (Not a direct time-based opposite, but describes a state where a person cannot maintain attention.)
Themes
psychology
|education
|health
Definition
How long a person can pay attention to one thing without stopping.
The length of time during which a person is able to stay mentally focused on one task, activity, or object.
NOUN
C2
ARCHAIC
7
arasz
B2
Usage pattern:
a span of [length] (archaic)
The cloth was said to be three spans in length.
Azt mondták, hogy a vászon három arasz hosszú.
He measured the board with his hand, counting two spans and a little more.
A kezével mérte le a deszkát: két araszt és még egy kicsit számolt.
In the old text, land is described in spans rather than in meters.
Learner examples
The table is about two spans long.
Az asztal körülbelül két arasz hosszú.
They once measured things in spans, not in centimeters.
Régen araszban is mértek dolgokat, nem centiméterben.
A span is the width of an open hand.
Meaning
hand-based unit of length
Collocations
measured in spans
|a span long
|two spans wide
Synonyms
handspan (More explicit; clearly shows that the measurement is based on a hand.)
Themes
measurement
|history
|core_vocabulary
Definition
An old measure of length: the space from the thumb to the little finger when your hand is open.
An old unit of length based on the distance across an outstretched human hand from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
8
Usage pattern:
the span of [a set of vectors]
The vectors v1 and v2 form a basis for the span of S.
A v1 és v2 vektorok az S lineáris burkolatának egy bázisát alkotják.
We can express any vector in this space as an element of the span of these three vectors.
Ebben a térben bármely vektort kifejezhetünk e három vektor lineáris burkolatának elemeként.
The span of the columns of the matrix equals the column space.
Learner examples
In this class, we learn about the span of a set of vectors.
Ezen az órán vektorhalmazok lineáris burkolatáról tanulunk.
The span of these two vectors is a plane.
E két vektor lineáris burkolata egy sík.
Every vector in the space is in the span of this basis.
Common mistake:
Non-native students may confuse the everyday meaning of "span" (time or distance) with the technical mathematical term and need context to understand the specialized use.
Meaning
linear algebra: set of combinations
Collocations
span of a set
|linear span
|span of these vectors
|vector span
Synonyms
linear span (A more explicit technical term that is often used interchangeably in mathematics.)
Themes
mathematics
|science
|education
Definition
In higher mathematics, all the vectors you can make by adding and scaling a given set of vectors.
In linear algebra, the set of all possible linear combinations of a given set of vectors in a vector space.
Grammar
Dictionary form
span
IPA
GB/spˈæn/
US/spˈæn/
Syllables & stress
span (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (span)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: span
- Plural: spans
Verb
- Base: span
- 3rd Person Singular: spans
- Present Participle: spanning
- Past: spanned
Word family
Forms
spans
noun
spanning
verb
spanned
verb
Related words
lifespan
noun B1
wingspan
noun
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: spanning Verb
- Irregular past: spanned Verb
Expressions
attention span
1/ətˈɛnʃən spˈæn/
fixed phrase
how long someone can focus
The time that a person can stay focused on one thing before getting bored or distracted.
Examples
- Social media is often blamed for reducing people’s attention span.
- Teachers design short activities to match children’s limited attention span.
- My attention span gets shorter when I am stressed.
in the span of
1/ˈɪn ðə spˈæn əv/
fixed phrase
during a specific period of time
Used before a time expression to say that something happened during that period of time.
Examples
- In the span of two years, the city transformed completely.
- The company lost three major clients in the span of a month.
- He learned basic Japanese in the span of one summer.
life span
1/lˈaɪf spˈæn/
fixed phrase
how long something lives or lasts
The length of time that a person, animal, or thing lives or works before it dies or stops working.
Examples
- Regular exercise can increase your life span.
- The average life span of a laptop is only a few years.
- Some turtles have a very long life span.
over the span of
1/ˈoʊvɚ ðə spˈæn əv/
fixed phrase
across the whole period of time
Used before a time expression to show that something happened or continued through all of that time.
Examples
- Over the span of ten years, they built a strong brand.
- Her views on the issue changed a lot over the span of a decade.
- The town grew quickly over the span of just five years.
span of control
1/spˈæn əv kəntɹˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
technical
number of people a manager oversees
In business, the number of workers or teams that one manager is responsible for.
Examples
- Her span of control is too wide for her to manage effectively.
- The company reduced each manager’s span of control to improve supervision.
- A narrow span of control can lead to too many management levels.
spick and span
1/spˈɪk ˈænd spˈæn/
idiom
informal
completely clean and neat
Very clean, tidy, and looking like new.
Examples
- After a full day of cleaning, the house was spick and span.
- The kitchen looks spick and span now that the repairs are done.
- She keeps her office spick and span at all times.
the full span of
1/ðə fˈʊl spˈæn əv/
fixed phrase
the entire length or range
Used to talk about the whole of something, from its beginning to its end, or from one limit to the other.
Examples
- The documentary covers the full span of her life.
- The museum shows the full span of his artistic work.
- We examined the full span of data from 1990 to 2020.
time span
1/tˈaɪm spˈæn/
fixed phrase
a specific length of time
A clear period of time between one moment and another, often given in numbers of days, months, or years.
Examples
- The study was carried out over a time span of five years.
- Within a short time span, the city changed completely.
- We need to reduce the time span between order and delivery.