English Explanatory Dictionary

expand

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open.
  2. To increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something).
  3. To express (something) at length and/or in detail.
  4. To rewrite (an expression) as a longer, yet equivalent, sum of terms.
  5. To become, by rewriting, a longer, yet equivalent, sum of terms.
  6. To multiply both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same (non-zero) number (which yields a fraction of equal value).
  7. To change or grow from smaller to larger in form, number, or size.
  8. To increase in extent, number, volume or scope.
  9. To speak or write at length or in detail.
  10. To feel generous or optimistic.
  11. In a hierarchical list (such as a directory tree or table of contents), to show the subentries of (an entry).

Pronunciation

/ɪkˈspænd/ /ɛkˈspænd/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-expand.wav

Word forms

expand expands expanding expanded no-table-tags glossary expandest expandedst expandeth

Etymology

Recorded in Middle English since 1422 (as expanden, expaunden), from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandere (“to spread out”), itself from ex- (“out, outwards”) + pandō (“to spread”). Doublet of spawn.

Synonyms

enlarge elaborate expand on open out spread spread out unfold

Antonyms

contract limit factor collapse

Related words

expanse expansible expansile expansion expansionism expansive

Derived words

coexpand companding expandability expandable expandedly expandedness expander expandingly expandingness expand one's wings hyperexpanded misexpand nonexpanded nonexpanding overexpand reexpand semiexpanded underexpanded unexpanded unexpanding

Translations

Arabic: وَسَّعَ Arabic: فَصَّلَ Bulgarian: разширявам Bulgarian: излагам подробно Bulgarian: разяснявам се Danish: ekspandere Dutch: uitbreiden Dutch: vergroten Dutch: vermeerderen Dutch: elaboreren Dutch: uitwerken Dutch: uitweiden Finnish: laajentaa Finnish: täsmentää Finnish: tarkentaa Finnish: selventää German: vergrößern Hebrew: הרחיב Hebrew: פירט Hungarian: kibont Hungarian: kiterít Hungarian: széttár Hungarian: kifejt Hungarian: bővebben elmond Hungarian: beszédesebbé válik Hungarian: megnyílik Italian: espandere Italian: dettagliare Italian: dilungare Italian: dilungarsi Japanese: 広げる Japanese: 拡大する Japanese: 展開する Japanese: 敷衍する Korean: 펴다 Korean: 피다 Lü: ᦶᦖᧈᦦᦱᧂᧉ Malayalam: വികസിപ്പിക്കുക Māori: whakaroha Norwegian: utvide Norwegian: ekspandere Norwegian: utdype Norwegian: greie ut Romanian: mări Russian: увели́чивать Russian: излага́ть де́ло в подро́бностях Russian: раскрыва́ть суть де́ла Swedish: expandera Swedish: vidga Swedish: utvidga Swedish: utveckla Swedish: utveckla sig Tagalog: palakihin Tagalog: palawakin Tagalog: lumawak Ukrainian: збі́льшувати Ukrainian: розповіда́ти в дета́лях Yiddish: אויסברייטערן Spanish: expandir Spanish: profundizar Spanish: explayar French: élaborer
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on E Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary