Old English spreawlian "move convulsively," with cognates in the Scandinavian languages (such as Norwegian sprala, Danish sprælle) and North Frisian spraweli, probably ultimately from PIE ro [..]

1719, from sprawl (v.); meaning "straggling expansion of built-up districts into surrounding countryside" is from 1955.

to stretch or spread out.

unregulated growth of an urban area.

conurbation: an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities sit or lie with one's limbs spread out an ungainly posture with arms and legs spread about go, come, or spread in a r [..]

(n) an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities(n) an ungainly posture with arms and legs spread about(v) sit or lie with one's limbs spread out(v) go, come, or spread in a rambling [..]

An often pejorative term referring to the expansive spatial growth of a metropolitan region, often at lower development densities. The development of most American suburban areas is considered sprawl.

  Dispersed, low-density, single-use, and automobile-dependent land-use patterns (Victoria Transportation Policy Institute

Unplanned development of open land.

Unplanned development of open land.

Unplanned development of open land.

Dispersed development, typically located outside of compact populations. Characterized by significant land consumption, low population densities in comparison with older communities, automobile depend [..]

Land development that is built away from urban areas and existing town centers, creating large areas of relatively low-density residential and commercial development.

Dispersed, low-density, single-use, automobile dependent land use patterns (Galster, et al, 2001).