What is the meaning of spread in cooking?

"Spread" in cooking has a few different meanings, depending on the context:

1. To distribute evenly: This is the most common meaning. It refers to distributing ingredients evenly over a surface, like spreading butter on toast, frosting on a cake, or sauce over pasta.

2. To flatten: You might "spread" a dough or batter to make it thinner, for example, when making cookies or pizza.

3. To create a thin layer: This is often used when referring to sauces or dips, like "spread a thin layer of pesto on the baguette."

4. To make something wider: You might "spread" a pie crust or dough in a pan to make it larger.

5. To expand: This can be used to describe how a batter or dough expands during baking.

6. To make something more viscous: This meaning is less common, but it can refer to mixing ingredients to create a thicker consistency, like when you spread peanut butter to make it smoother.

It's important to consider the context to understand the specific meaning of "spread" in a recipe or instruction. If you're unsure, look for clues in the surrounding text or use a search engine to find examples of the phrase in use.