This page provides information on different agencies to contact regarding compliance, complaints, or questions from the California Bureau of Real Estate (CalBRE) Skip to Main Content About CalBRE | Contact Us | Newsroom | Forms | Publications
Definition of span. 1  1 : the distance from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger of a spread hand; also : an English unit of length equal to nine inches (22.9 centimeters)
Something, such as a railroad trestle or bridge, that extends from one point to another. The distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully extended, formerly used as a unit of measure equal to about 9 inches (23 centimeters). A period of time: a span of life. transitive verb. spanned, spanÂ·ning, spans . To extend across in space or time: a bridge that spans the gorge; a career that spanned 40 years. To encircle or cover with the hand or hands. To measure in spans. Origin of span. Middle English unit of measurement from Old English spann; see (s)pen-in Indo-European roots.