Quick definitions from WordNet (span)

▸ noun:  the distance or interval between two points
▸ noun:  a unit of length based on the width of the expanded human hand (usually taken as 9 inches)
▸ noun:  the complete duration of something ("The job was finished in the span of an hour")
▸ noun:  the act of sitting or standing astride
▸ noun:  a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
▸ noun:  two items of the same kind
▸ verb:  to cover or extend over an area or time period ("Rivers traverse the valley floor, The parking lot spans 3 acres")
▸ name:  A surname (rare: 1 in 100000 families; popularity rank in the U.S.: #18438)

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▸ Also see span