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Spam vs Span - What's the difference?

spam | span |

As nouns the difference between spam and span

is that spam is a collection of unsolicited bulk electronic messages while span is the space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; eighth of a fathom.

As verbs the difference between spam and span

is that spam is to send spam (i.e. unsolicited electronic messages. while span is to traverse the distance between.

As a proper noun SPAM

is alternative form of Spam|lang=en (tinned meat product.

As an acronym SPAN is

suicide Prevention Advocacy Network.

spam

English

Noun

  • (uncountable, computing, Internet) A collection of unsolicited bulk electronic messages.
  • * {{quote-magazine, title=No hiding place
  • , date=2013-05-25, volume=407, issue=8837, page=74, magazine=(The Economist) citation , passage=In America alone, people spent $170 billion on “direct marketing”—junk mail of both the physical and electronic varieties—last year. Yet of those who received unsolicited adverts through the post, only 3% bought anything as a result. If the bumf arrived electronically, the take-up rate was 0.1%. And for online adverts the “conversion” into sales was a minuscule 0.01%. That means about $165 billion was spent not on drumming up business, but on annoying people, creating landfill and cluttering spam filters.}}
  • (uncountable, computing, Internet) Any undesired electronic content automatically generated for commercial purposes.
  • (countable, rare, computing, Internet) An unsolicited electronic message sent in bulk, usually by email or newsgroups.
  • (tinned meat product)
  • Hyponyms

    (Hyponyms of spam) * * * * * (hyp-mid) * * * * (hyp-bottom)

    Derived terms

    * * * * *

    Meronyms

    * e-mail, email

    Verb

    (spamm)
  • (intransitive, computing, Internet) To send spam (i.e. unsolicited electronic messages.)
  • (transitive, computing, Internet) To send spam (i.e. unsolicited electronic messages) to a person or entity.
  • (transitive, by extension, video games) To relentlessly attack an enemy with (a spell or ability).
  • Stop spamming that special attack!
  • (transitive, intransitive, computing, Internet) To post the same text repeatedly with disruptive effect; to flood.
  • See also

    * * Official SPAM home page

    Anagrams

    *

    Usage notes

    ----

    span

    English

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) spann

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; eighth of a fathom.
  • Hence, a small space or a brief portion of time.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • Yet not to earth's contracted span / Thy goodness let me bound.
  • * Farquhar
  • Life's but a span ; I'll every inch enjoy.
  • * 2007 . Zerzan, John. Silence .
  • The unsilent present is a time of evaporating attention spans ,
  • The spread or extent of an arch or between its abutments, or of a beam, girder, truss, roof, bridge, or the like, between supports.
  • The length of a cable, wire, rope, chain between two consecutive supports.
  • (nautical) A rope having its ends made fast so that a purchase can be hooked to the bight; also, a rope made fast in the center so that both ends can be used.
  • (obsolete) A pair of horses or other animals driven together; usually, such a pair of horses when similar in color, form, and action.
  • (mathematics) the space of all linear combinations of something
  • Etymology 2

    Old English spannan

    Verb

    (spann)
  • To traverse the distance between.
  • The suspension bridge spanned the canyon as tenuously as one could imagine.
  • To cover or extend over an area or time period.
  • The parking lot spans three acres.
    The novel spans three centuries.
    World record! 5 GHz WiFi connection spans 189 miles. [http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/27/world-record-5ghz-wifi-connection-spans-189-miles/]
  • * Prescott
  • The rivers were spanned by arches of solid masonry.
  • To measure by the span of the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers encompassing the object.
  • to span''' a space or distance; to '''span a cylinder
  • * Bible, Isa. xiviii. 13
  • My right hand hath spanned the heavens.
  • (mathematics) to generate an entire space by means of linear combinations
  • (intransitive, US, dated) To be matched, as horses.
  • To fetter, as a horse; to hobble.
  • Etymology 3

    Verb

    (head)
  • (archaic, nonstandard) (spin)
  • *
  • * '>citation
  • *:a giant pick-up truck span out of control during a stunt show in a Dutch town, killing three people