The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word GAPES
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
G
A
P
E
S
More clues leading to the result GAPES
- Training with a gas mask is widely spread
- Opens mouth, but runs out of fruit
- Stares stupidly at bunch of fruit, having no resistance
- Avian disease, potential energy being restricted by chatter
- Is yawning, given talk about exercise
- Good impersonators mouthed expressions
- Is open-mouthed, needing oxygen, say, to take exercise
- Looks astonished — beginning and middle transposed in book?
- Yawns, turning pages
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "is widely spread" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case is widely spread = gapes.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 GAPES mean?
GAPES noun- An act of gaping; a yawn.
- A large opening.
- A disease in poultry caused by gapeworm in the windpipe, a symptom of which is frequent gaping.
- The width of an opening.
- The maximum opening of the mouth (of a bird, fish, etc.) when it is open.
- To open the mouth wide, especially involuntarily, as in a yawn, anger, or surprise.
- To stare in wonder.
- To open wide; to display a gap.
- Of a cat: to open the passage to the vomeronasal organ, analogous to the flehming in other animals.