A "spread" in finance refers to the difference between two prices, rates, or yields. For example, in the stock market, the spread can be the difference between the buying price (ask) and the selling price (bid) of a stock. A smaller spread often indicates a more liquid market, where buying and selling happen more easily. In the context of betting, a spread is used to level the playing field between two teams. For instance, in sports betting, a favorite team might have a spread of -7 points, meaning they need to win by more than 7 points for a bet on them to pay off. This helps make the game more exciting and fair for bettors.