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dilative

 - 2 dictionary results

di⋅la⋅tive

[dahy-ley-tiv, di-, dahy-ley-]
–adjective
serving or tending to dilate.

Origin:
1520–30; dilate + -ive
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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di·late   (dī-lāt', dī'lāt')   
v.   di·lat·ed, di·lat·ing, di·lates

v.   tr.
To make wider or larger; cause to expand.
v.   intr.
  1. To become wider or larger; expand.

  2. To speak or write at great length on a subject; expatiate.


[Middle English dilaten, from Old French dilater, from Latin dīlātāre, to enlarge : dī-, dis-, apart; see dis- + lātus, wide.]
di·lat'a·bil'i·ty n., di·lat'a·ble adj., di·lat'a·bly adv., di·la'tive adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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