Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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noun
A hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Commonwealth, Ireland, UK
Synonyms: wrench
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hand tool, tool
noun
A hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts.
Any of certain types of such a tool that have a pin or hook to engage the driven object.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Canada, Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, US
Synonyms: wrench
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hand tool, tool, wrench
noun
One who, or that which, spans.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A (usually sparse) graph whose shortest path distances approximate those in a dense graph or other metric space.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: graph-theory, mathematics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A hand tool shaped like a small crank handle, for winding the spring of a wheel lock on a musket.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: engineering, government, military, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, politics, tools, war, weaponry
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A device in early steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A problem, dilemma or obstacle; something unexpected or troublesome (in the phrase spanner in the works)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Ireland, UK
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Ireland, UK, derogatory, mildly
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To use a spanner; to fix with a spanner
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a hand tool that is used to hold or twist a nut or bolt
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: wrench
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hand tool
Narrower terms: adjustable wrench, adjustable spanner, Allen wrench, alligator wrench, box wrench, box end wrench, brace wrench, bulldog wrench, carriage wrench, dog wrench, hook wrench, hook spanner, lug wrench, open-end wrench, tappet wrench, pin wrench, screw key, socket wrench, sparkplug wrench, tap wrench, torque wrench
History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(s)pend-der. Proto-Germanic *spannō Old English spann Middle English spanne English span Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English spanner From span + -er.
Across languages
116 source translations are retained for this English entry.
