spa ce shut|tle (space shuttles ) N‑COUNT A space shuttle or a shuttle is a spacecraft that is designed to travel into space and back to earth several times.
spa ce sta|tion (space stations ) N‑COUNT A space station is a place built for astronauts to live and work in, which is sent into space and then keeps going around the earth.
spa ce suit (space suits ) also spacesuit N‑COUNT A space suit is a special protective suit that is worn by astronauts in space.
spa ce walk (space walks ) N‑COUNT When an astronaut goes on a space walk , he or she leaves the spacecraft and works outside it while floating in space.
spacey /spe I si/ (spacier , spaciest ) also spacy ADJ You can use spacey to describe things, especially music, which seem strange, especially because they are very modern or like things in a dream. [INFORMAL ] □ …brilliant, spacey guitar sounds.
spac|ing /spe I s I ŋ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Spacing refers to the way that typing or printing is arranged on a page, especially in relation to the amount of space that is left between words or lines. □ Please type or write clearly in double spacing on one side of A4 paper only.
2 → see also space
spa|cious /spe I ʃəs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A spacious room or other place is large in size or area, so that you can move around freely in it. □ The house has a spacious kitchen and dining area.
spacy /spe I si/ → see spacey
spade /spe I d/ (spades )
1 N‑COUNT A spade is a tool used for digging, with a flat metal blade and a long handle. □ … a garden spade. □ The girls happily played in the sand with buckets and spades.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [with sing or pl verb] Spades is one of the four suits in a pack of playing cards. Each card in the suit is marked with one or more black symbols: ♠. □ …the ace of spades. ● N‑COUNT A spade is a playing card of this suit.
3 PHRASE If you say that someone calls a spade a spade , you mean that they speak clearly and directly about things, even embarrassing or unpleasant things. [APPROVAL ] □ I'm not at all secretive, and I'm pretty good at calling a spade a spade.
spade|work /spe I dwɜː r k/ N‑SING The spadework is the uninteresting work that has to be done as preparation before you can start a project or activity. □ It is now that the spadework has to be done to lay firm foundations for later success.
spa|ghet|ti /spəge ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Spaghetti is a type of pasta. It looks like long pieces of string and is usually served with a sauce.
spa|ghe t|ti we st|ern (spaghetti westerns ) N‑COUNT A spaghetti western is a film made in Europe, usually by an Italian director, about life in the American Wild West.
spake /spe I k/ Spake is the very old-fashioned form of the past tense of speak .
spam /spæ m/ (spams , spamming , spammed ) The form Spam can also be used for meaning 1 . 1 N‑UNCOUNT Spam is a cooked meat product made from pork and ham. [TRADEMARK ]
2 VERB In computing, to spam people or organizations means to send unwanted emails to a large number of them, usually as advertising. [COMPUTING ] □ [V n] …programs that let you spam the newspapers. ● N‑VAR Spam is also a noun. □ …a small group of people fighting the spam plague. ● spam|ming N‑UNCOUNT □ The consultant who suggested using spamming to raise the company's profile has been fired. ● spam|mer (spammers ) N‑COUNT □ The real culprits are the spammers.
span /spæ n/ (spans , spanning , spanned )
1 N‑COUNT A span is the period of time between two dates or events during which something exists, functions, or happens. □ [+ of ] The batteries had a life span of six hours. □ Gradually the time span between sessions will increase.
2 N‑COUNT Your concentration span or your attention span is the length of time you are able to concentrate on something or be interested in it. □ His ability to absorb information was astonishing, but his concentration span was short.
3 VERB [no passive] If something spans a long period of time, it lasts throughout that period of time or relates to that whole period of time. □ [V n] His professional career spanned 16 years. □ [V n] The film spans almost a quarter-century.
4 VERB [no passive] If something spans a range of things, all those things are included in it. □ [V n] Bernstein's compositions spanned all aspects of music, from symphonies to musicals.
5 N‑COUNT The span of something that extends or is spread out sideways is the total width of it from one end to the other. □ It is a very pretty butterfly, with a 2 inch wing span.
6 VERB A bridge or other structure that spans something such as a river or a valley stretches right across it. □ [V n] Travellers cross a footbridge that spans a little stream.
7 → see also spick and span
span|gle /spæ ŋg ə l/ (spangles ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Spangles are small pieces of shiny metal or plastic which are used to decorate clothing or hair. □ …robes that glittered with spangles.
span|gled /spæ ŋg ə ld/ ADJ Something that is spangled is covered with small shiny objects. □ …spangled, backless dresses.
span|gly /spæ ŋgli/ ADJ Spangly clothes are decorated with a lot of small shiny objects. □ He certainly liked spangly jackets.
Span|iard /spæ njə r d/ (Spaniards ) N‑COUNT A Spaniard is a Spanish citizen, or a person of Spanish origin.