Spandimento

Spandimento is a noun in Italian that denotes the act or result of spreading, expansion, or dissemination. It derives from the verb spandere, which in turn comes from Latin and means to spread or extend.

In practice, the term is used across disciplines to describe how a phenomenon extends beyond its origin. In geography and urban planning, spandimento refers to outward growth of settlements and the expansion of built-up areas into peripheral zones, with implications for land use, transportation, and infrastructure. In ecology, epidemiology, and environmental studies, it denotes the diffusion of species, diseases, or pollutants across regions or over time. In social sciences and communications, spandimento can describe the diffusion of ideas, technologies, or cultural practices within a population.

Quantitative use of the term often involves spatial or temporal measures of spread, such as radius of influence, density, or diffusion metrics. The term is relatively general, and context determines whether it refers to physical expansion, diffusion, or both. Related phrases include spandimento urbano or spandimento territoriale in planning contexts, as well as the broader idea of diffusion or spread in science and society.