The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word SPREADER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
P
R
E
A
D
E
R
More clues leading to the result SPREADER
- Second page reached by customer of paper that covers a wide area
- Page in second book showing butter knife?
- The yachtsman’s bar that reps read about
- Study held by agents backing agricultural machine
- One broadcasts in Sweden and Portugal with university don
- Page in small book shows butter knife, for example
- Butter knife, maybe about to open tool drawer at last!
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "that covers a wide area" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case that covers a wide area = spreader.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SPREADER mean?
SPREADER noun- An object or person who spreads.
- A spacer or device for keeping two objects apart.
- A device used to spread bulk material.
- A knife or spatula used to distribute a substance such as butter or jelly.
- A horizontal athwartships spar attached to the mast of a sailboat in order to extend the shrouds away from the mast.
- A machine for combining and drawing fibers of flax to form a sliver preparatory to spinning.
- The moving platform of a container crane.
- A member of a cracking group who distributes warez.