To Spread Something
To Unfold Something, To Open Something Up
transitive verb, ichidan verb
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb.
The kanji itself means wide, and the verb version is what happens when you try to make something wider. How do you make something wider? That's right, you have to spread something, to unfold something or to open something up. All of those actions will make a thing wider!
This is a transitive verb. That means it takes a direct object. You spread something. Like a newspaper, or a cloth on a table.
Since this word has okurigana (hiragana attached to the kanji) you know that it's probably going to be the kun'yomi reading. You learned this reading with the kanji, but here's a reminder mnemonic to help you:
You are going to spread something. What are you going to spread? How about your arms, so that you can fly into the sky like the super hero (ひろ) that you are! Most heroes can fly when they spread their arms wide!
日本にそのウィルスを広げたのは水だった。
It was water that spread the virus in Japan.
大人三人でブランケットを広げた。
Three adults unfolded a blanket.
中に入ってすぐ本を広げた。
As soon as I went inside, I opened the book.