French word

étaler

Pronunciation

IPA/etale/

Meaning

  • verbspread

Example

Elle étale la confiture sur la tartine.

She spreads jam on the toast.

Illustration for étaler (spread)

More examples

Il étale la pâte.

He rolls out the dough.

Core concept

A soft substance is spread into a thin layer, or objects are laid out so that they are easy to see.

Common phrases

  • étaler la confiture

    spread the jam

  • étaler du beurre

    spread some butter

  • étaler la pâte

    roll out the dough

Similar words

tartiner: To coat bread or similar food with a layer of jam or butter.
étendre: To stretch cloth or another material outward over a larger area.
répandre: To spread liquid or powder over a wider area.
exposer: To arrange products or artworks for public display.

Definition in French

Mettre quelque chose à plat ou en couche sur une surface, ou disposer des objets de façon visible, et s'employer au sens figuré pour signifier «faire étalage».

Word origin

Étaler comes from Old French estaler and is historically linked to étal, a stand for displaying goods; the verb retains the idea of making something spread and visible.

Usage tips

  • Étaler is transitive, while s'étaler can mean to spread out or sprawl, so the two forms do not have the same construction or meaning.

Other meanings

  • lay outverb
  • flauntverb

Opposites

Related words

  • étalagedisplaynoun
  • étalementspreadingnoun
  • étaléspread outadjective

Word lists with this word