expand
/ɪkˈspænd/ verb
Forms expands expanding expanded expandest expandedst expandeth
- verb (transitive) To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open. “You can expand this compact umbrella to cover a large table.”
- verb (transitive) To increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something). “A flower expands its leaves.”
- verb (transitive) To express (something) at length and/or in detail.
- verb (transitive, algebra) To rewrite (an expression) as a longer, yet equivalent, sum of terms. “Use the binomial theorem to expand #123;(x#43;1)#125;⁴.”
- verb (intransitive, algebra, of an expression) To become, by rewriting, a longer, yet equivalent, sum of terms. “The expression #123;(x#43;1)#125;⁴ expands to x⁴#43;4x³#43;6x²#43;4x#43;1.”
- verb (transitive, arithmetic) To multiply both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same (non-zero) number (which yields a fraction of equal value). “Expanding 4#47;7 by 3 gives 12#47;21.”
- verb (intransitive) To change or grow from smaller to larger in form, number, or size. “Many materials expand when heated.”
- verb (intransitive) To increase in extent, number, volume or scope.
Synonyms
open out spread spread out unfold enlarge elaborate expand on boom thrive flourish inflate blow up amplify lucubrate expatiate exposit flesh out expound dilate extend
Antonyms
Etymology
Recorded in Middle English since 1422 (as expanden, expaunden), from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandō (“to spread out”), itself from ex- (“out, outwards”) + pandō (“to spread”). Doublet of spawn.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To lay open by extending; to open wide; to spread out; to diffuse; as, a flower expands its leaves.
- verb To cause the particles or parts of to spread themselves or stand apart, thus increasing bulk without addition of substance; to make to occupy more space; to dilate; to distend; to extend every way; to enlarge; --opposed to Ant: contract; as, to expand the chest; heat expands all bodies; to expand the sphere of benevolence.
- verb To become widely opened, spread apart, dilated, distended, or enlarged; as, flowers expand in the spring; metals expand by heat; the heart expands with joy. Dryden.
Etymology [L. expandere, expansum; ex out + pandere to spread out, to throw open; perh. akin to E. patent. Cf. Spawn.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “expand”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details