Former lover takes care of spreads (7)
I believe the answer is:
extends
'spreads' is the definition.
('extend' can be a synonym of 'spread')
'former lover takes care of' is the wordplay.
'former lover' becomes 'ex' (ex-lover).
'takes care of' becomes 'tends' (tending is a kind of taking care of).
'ex'+'tends'='EXTENDS'
(Other definitions for extends that I've seen before include "Reaches or stretches out, say the hand of friendship" , "Lengthens" , "Enlarges" , "Stretches out over a distance" , "holds out" .)