spänna

From Old Swedish spänna, from Old Norse spenna, from Proto-Germanic *spannijaną, causative of *spannaną (“to stretch, to span”). Cognate with Danish spænde, and Middle Low German spennen.

• IPA^(key): /spɛnːa/

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spänna (present spänner, preterite spände, supine spänt, imperative spänn)

1. to tighten, to tense (make tense or taut, of muscles, a rope, a spring, or the like)

   Han spände sina stora muskler

   He flexed his big muscles

   spänna öronen

   to cock one's ears

2. to pull (the string of) a bow or crossbow

   Det är skönare lyss till en sträng, som brast, än att aldrig spänna en båge

   It is nobler to hear a string, that snapped, than never to pull a bow

3. to fasten (a belt), to clamp (put in a spanner), to strap on (skies etc.)

   spänna för hästen

   hitch a horse, harness the horse

4. to span (to extend across)

   Bron spänner över floden

   The bridge spans across the river

   Boken spänner över tre sekel

   The book spans across three centuries

5. to build a bridge

   Över Ljungan spändes tvenne nya broar

   Across the Ljungan two new bridges were built

6. (dated, dialect) to kick, to jump

   en fåle spänner med foten

   a pony kicks with its foot

7. (vulgar, usually of males, with på) to bang (have sex with)

   Jag spände på en riktig pudding igår

   I banged a real hottie yesterday

8. (slang) to spend (time or money)

• spänna in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• spänna in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• spänna in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)