Tools: Learn New Words | Secure Password Generator | Startup Tools | PDF Generator

Splay (Verb)

Turn outward; "These birds can splay out their toes"; "ballet dancers can rotate their legs out by 90 degrees".

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.

The ballet dancer's calves began to ache as she practiced how to splay her legs wide enough to achieve the perfect 180-degree split.
In birds of prey, such as eagles and hawks, their ability to splay out their sharp talons makes them efficient hunters.
Some contortionists develop the skill to splay their arms up and back, giving the illusion of superhuman flexibility.
Her yoga instructor asked her to splay her fingers as wide as possible to improve her grip on the mat.
The young gymnast was taught to splay her knees wide apart to maintain perfect balance during her routine.

Move out of position; "dislocate joints"; "the artificial hip joint luxated and had to be put back surgically".

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..

Her shoulder began to splay out of its socket as she fell onto the ice.
The elderly woman's wrist splayed to the side and her arm hung limply after the accident.
If you land awkwardly from that height, you'll splay an ankle for sure.
Even with constant physiotherapy, her knee continued to splay away from its correct alignment.
Years of backpacking caused her hip joint to periodically splay out and need to be readjusted manually.

Spread open or apart; "He splayed his huge hands over the table".

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.

She splayed her fingers over the map to measure the distance between the two cities.
The animal splayed its claws to balance itself on the narrow tree branch.
The dancer splayed her legs wide open in a splits pose.
The two fighters splayed their legs apart and readied themselves for battle.
He splayed his fingers to get a better grip on the heavy grocery bags.