Étalé

Étalé is a French adjective and the past participle of the verb étaler. It describes something that is spread out, laid on a surface, or extended over a wide area. The term is used both literally, for physical arrangements, and figuratively, to convey broad distribution in space or time. The feminine form is étalée.

In geography and urban planning, étalé characterizes landscapes or urban forms that are dispersed rather than densely built around a core. A town described as une ville étalée connotes a spread-out pattern, and a terrain étalé indicates a broad, expansive area. The concept is often discussed in contrast with compact or dense configurations. It can also apply to objects or displays that lie flat and broadly across a surface, for example un tapis étalé sur le sol.

Étymologie and related terms: étalé derives from the verb étaler, itself forming the sense of spreading something out. Related nouns include étalement (the act or result of spreading) and the concept of étalement urbain, referring to urban sprawl. In English translations, étalé is commonly rendered as “spread out” or “stretched out.”

Usage notes: étalé is widely understood in French, especially in discussions of geography, architecture, and urban studies. Synonyms include étendu, déployé, dispersé, and largement réparti, while antonyms include concentré, serré, and compact.