expand
English
Etymology
Recorded in Middle English since 1422 (as expanden, expaunden), from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandere present active infinitive of expandō (“to spread out”), itself from ex- (“out, outwards”) + pandō (“to spread”). Doublet of spawn.
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -ænd
- IPA(key): /ɛkˈspænd/
Audio (UK) (file)
Verb
expand (third-person singular simple present expands, present participle expanding, simple past and past participle expanded)
- (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.
- (transitive) To increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something).
- A flower expands its leaves.
- 1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […], OCLC 228722708; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, OCLC 230729554:
- Then with expanded wings he steers his flight.
- 1961 October, “The winter timetables of British Railways: Scottish Region”, in Trains Illustrated, page 594:
- This has evidently been encouraging, for the current winter timetable - not even with the benefit of summer holiday traffic - shows that the two trains each way have been expanded to four.
- (transitive) To express (something) at length and/or in detail.
- (transitive, algebra) To rewrite (an expression) as a longer, yet equivalent sum of terms.
- Use the binomial theorem to expand .
- (intransitive, algebra, of an expression) To become, by rewriting, a longer, yet equivalent sum of terms.
- The expression expands to .
- (transitive, arithmetic) To multiply both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same natural number yielding a fraction of equal value
- (intransitive) To change or grow from smaller to larger in form, number, or size.
- Many materials expand when heated.
- This compact umbrella expands to cover a large table.
- (intransitive) To increase in extent, number, volume or scope.
- (intransitive) To speak or write at length or in detail.
- He expanded on his plans for the business.
- 1899, Stephen Crane, chapter 1, in Twelve O'Clock:
- There was some laughter, and Roddle was left free to expand his ideas on the periodic visits of cowboys to the town. “Mason Rickets, he had ten big punkins a-sittin' in front of his store, an' them fellers from the Upside-down-F ranch shot 'em up […] ”
- (intransitive) To feel generous or optimistic.
Synonyms
- (to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one): open out, spread, spread out, unfold
- (to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of): enlarge
- (to express at length or in detail): elaborate (on), expand on
Antonyms
- (to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one): contract
- (to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of): contract
- (algebra: to rewrite as an equivalent sum of terms): factor
Derived terms
- expandable
- expander
Related terms
- expanse
- expansible
- expansile
- expansion
- expansionism
- expansive
Translations
(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
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(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
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(transitive) to express at length or in detail
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(transitive, algebra) to rewrite as an equivalent sum of terms
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(intransitive, algebra) to become an equivalent sum of terms
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(transitive, arithmetic) to multiply the numerator and denominator of a fraction by the same number
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(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
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(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
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(intransitive) to speak or write at length or in detail
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(intransitive) to feel generous or optimistic
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
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