SPANS

noun

1. The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; an eighth of a fathom.
2. (by extension) A small space or a brief portion of time.
3. A portion of something by length; a subsequence.

verb

1. To extend through the distance between or across.
2. To extend through (a time period).
3. To measure by the span of the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers encompassing the object.