Definition

The distance from one tip of a bird's or insect's wings to the other when the wings are fully open.

Example

The wingspread of the eagle was impressive as it soared through the sky.

Conversation

Have you ever seen a bird with such a large wingspread?

Yeah, it's amazing how wide their wings can get.

I read that some birds can have a wingspread of over six feet!

That's incredible! I can only imagine how that helps them fly.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Wingspread → It is formed from "wing" (from Old English "wenge", meaning the limb of a bird or insect used for flying) and "spread" (from Old English "sperdan", meaning to extend or stretch out). The word "wingspread" refers to the distance from one wingtip to the other when wings are fully extended.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'wing' as the part of a bird that helps it fly, and 'spread' means to extend out. So, wingspread is the distance when a bird's wings are fully extended.

Visually Confused Words