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ex⋅pand

  [ik-spand]
Use expand in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to increase in extent, size, volume, scope, etc.: Heat expands most metals. He hopes to expand his company.
2. to spread or stretch out; unfold: A bird expands its wings.
3. to express in fuller form or greater detail; develop: to expand a short story into a novel.
4. Mathematics.
a. to write (a mathematical expression) so as to show the products of its factors. Compare factor (def. 10).
b. to rewrite (a mathematical expression) as a sum, product, etc., of terms of a particular kind: to expand a function in a power series.
–verb (used without object)
5. to increase or grow in extent, bulk, scope, etc.: Most metals expand with heat. The mind expands with experience.
6. to spread out; unfold; develop: The buds had not yet expanded.
7. to express something more fully or in greater detail (usually fol. by on or upon): to expand on a statement.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME expanden < L expandere to spread out, equiv. to ex- ex- 1 + pandere to extend, stretch

Related forms:
ex⋅pand⋅a⋅ble, ex⋅pand⋅i⋅ble, adjective
ex⋅pand⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, ex⋅pand⋅i⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun

Synonyms:
1. extend, swell, enlarge. See increase. Expand, dilate, distend, inflate imply becoming larger and filling more space. To expand is to spread out, usually in every direction: to expand one's chest. To dilate is esp. to increase the width or circumference, and applies to space enclosed within confines or to hollow bodies: to dilate the pupils of the eyes. To distend is to stretch, often beyond the point of natural expansion: to distend an artery. To inflate is to blow out or swell a hollow body with air or gas: to inflate a balloon.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To expand
ex·pand   (ĭk-spānd')   
v.   ex·pand·ed, ex·pand·ing, ex·pands

v.   tr.
  1. To increase the size, volume, quantity, or scope of; enlarge: expanded her store by adding a second room. See Synonyms at increase.
  2. To express at length or in detail; enlarge on: expanded his remarks afterward.
  3. To open (something) up or out; spread out: The bird expanded its wings and flew off.
  4. Mathematics To write (a quantity) as a sum of terms in an extended form.
v.   intr.
  1. To become greater in size, volume, quantity, or scope: Air expands when heated. This critic's influence is expanding.
  2. To speak or write at length or in detail: expand on a favorite topic.
  3. To open up or out; unfold: The chair expands to form a day bed.
  4. To feel expansive.

[Middle English expanden, to spread out, from Latin expandere : ex-, ex- + pandere, to spread; see petə- in Indo-European roots.]
ex·pand'a·ble adj., ex·pand'er n.
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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Expand

Ex*pand"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Expanding.] [L. expandere, expansum; ex out + pandere to spread out, to throw open; perh. akin to E. patent. Cf. Spawn.]

1. To lay open by extending; to open wide; to spread out; to diffuse; as, a flower expands its leaves.

Then with expanded wings he steers his flight. --Milton.

2. 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 contract; as, to expand the chest; heat expands all bodies; to expand the sphere of benevolence.

3. (Math.) To state in enlarged form; to develop; as, to expand an equation. See Expansion, 5.

Expand

Ex*pand"\, v. i. 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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : expand
Spanish: ampliar, aumentar, dilatar, crecer,
German: ausdehnen,
Japanese: 広げる
More Translations »

expand 
1422, "spread out, spread flat," from Anglo-Fr. espaundre, from L. expandere "to spread out," from ex- "out" + pandere "to spread." Sense of "grow larger" first recorded c.1645. Expansionist "one who advocates the expansion of the territory of his nation" is from 1862.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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