splayed

Splayed is a descriptive term used to indicate that parts are spread apart or diverge from a common point or line. As an adjective, it refers to arrangements where elements are spread outward, often at an angle wider than a parallel or flush alignment. The verb splay denotes the action of spreading or widening such that components move away from each other.

The word is used across multiple fields, including anatomy, engineering, and design. In everyday language, splayed describes limbs or digits that are spread apart, such as splayed fingers or splayed feet. In medical or biomechanical contexts, it can describe a posture or arrangement where parts diverge from a central axis, though the term remains descriptive rather than diagnostic.

In construction and woodworking, splayed elements are surfaces or joints cut or arranged at an angle so that they flare outward from a common line. This can serve functional purposes, such as facilitating fit, drainage, or visual design, or simply reflect a stylistic choice.

In botany and horticulture, splayed branches or leaf tips describe outward divergence from the main stem rather than strict vertical growth. While the exact angle is not fixed, the term conveys a clear sense of outward spread.

Overall, splayed conveys a spread-out configuration and is used as a neutral descriptive term rather than as a technical specification. See also splay.