sprawl

sprawl
    n 1: an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities
         [syn: {conurbation}, {urban sprawl}, {sprawl}]
    2: an ungainly posture with arms and legs spread about [syn:
       {sprawl}, {sprawling}]
    v 1: sit or lie with one's limbs spread out
    2: go, come, or spread in a rambling or irregular way; "Branches
       straggling out quite far" [syn: {sprawl}, {straggle}]
    

Sprawl \Sprawl\ (spr[add]l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sprawled}
   (spr[add]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Sprawling}.] [OE. spraulen;
   cf. Sw. sprattla to sprawl, dial. Sw. spralla, Dan. spraelle,
   spraelde, D. spartelen, spertelen, to flounder, to struggle.]
   1. To spread and stretch the body or limbs carelessly in a
      horizontal position; to lie with the limbs stretched out
      ungracefully.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To spread irregularly, as vines, plants, or trees; to
      spread ungracefully, as chirography.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To move, when lying down, with awkward extension and
      motions of the limbs; to scramble in creeping.
      [1913 Webster]

            The birds were not fledged; but upon sprawling and
            struggling to get clear of the flame, down they
            tumbled.                              --L'Estrange.
      [1913 Webster]
    

sprawl \sprawl\ (spr[add]l), n.
   The position or state resulting from sprawling; as, he sat on
   the couch in a sprawl; uncontrolled urban sprawl.
   [PJC]
    

120 Moby Thesaurus words for "sprawl":
      accubation, accumbency, be lengthy, be prolonged, bed, bed down,
      belong, branch, branch out, capsize, careen, come a cropper, couch,
      crane, crawl, cropper, culbute, curl up, decumbency, deploy,
      disperse, dive, drape, expand, expansion, extend, extend out,
      extension, fall, fall down, fall flat, fall headlong, fall over,
      fall prostrate, fan, fan out, flare, flop, flounder,
      forced landing, get a cropper, go to bed, go to rest, grovel,
      header, lay, lie, lie around, lie down, lie flat, lie limply,
      lie prone, lie prostrate, list, loll, lounge, lounging, lurch,
      lying, meander, open, open up, outreach, outspread, outstretch,
      overgrow, overrun, pitch, plunge, pratfall, proneness, prostration,
      ramble, ramify, reach out, reclination, recline, reclining,
      recumbency, repose, rest, scramble, settle to rest, slouch, slump,
      snug down, spill, splay, spraddle, sprangle, spread,
      spread like wildfire, spread out, spread-eagle, stagger,
      stand on tiptoes, straddle, straggle, stretch, stretch out,
      stumble, supineness, take a fall, take a flop, take a header,
      take a pratfall, take a spill, take it easy, take life easy, tilt,
      topple, topple down, topple over, totter, trip, tumble,
      turn turtle, unfold, wander, widen