conurbation, urban sprawl, sprawl (noun)

an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities

sprawl, sprawling (verb)

an ungainly posture with arms and legs spread about

sprawl (verb)

sit or lie with one's limbs spread out

sprawl, straggle (verb)

go, come, or spread in a rambling or irregular way

"Branches straggling out quite far"

sprawl (Noun)

An ungainly sprawling posture.

sprawl (Noun)

A straggling, haphazard growth, especially of housing on the edge of a city.

sprawl (Verb)

To sit with the limbs spread out.

sprawl (Verb)

To spread out in a disorderly fashion; to straggle.

Sprawl

A sprawl is a martial arts and wrestling term for a defensive technique that is done in response to certain takedown attempts, typically double or single leg takedown attempts. The sprawl is performed by scooting the legs backwards, so as to land on the upper back of the opponent attempting the takedown. The resultant position is also known as a sprawl or sprawling position. Ideally, the sprawling athlete should arch his back as much as possible and keep his knees off the mat. His options here including attempting to gain leverage on the lower back by hooking underneath the elbows; throwing in a headlock; and grabbing his opponent's ankles and trying to get behind his opponent. In mixed martial arts, sprawling is an important aspect of the sprawl-and-brawl tactic. Although the sprawl is favored among numerous wrestlers and mixed martial arts fighters, some practitioners prefer to use the technique called the 'down block'.