v.
Pronunciation: ' d ī - ˌ l ā t, d ī - '
Function: verb
Inflected Form: di · lat · ed ; di · lat · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French dilater, from Latin dilatare, literally, to spread wide, from dis- + latus wide ― more at LATITUDE
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 archaic : to describe or set forth at length or in detail
2 : to enlarge or expand in bulk or extent : DISTEND , WIDEN
intransitive verb
1 : to comment at length : DISCOURSE ― usually used with on or upon
2 : to become wide : SWELL <the pupil of the eye dilate s and contracts>
synonyms see EXPAND
– di · lat · abil · i · ty \ ( ˌ )d ī - ˌ l ā -t ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē \ noun
– di · lat · able \ d ī - ' l ā -t ə -b ə l, ' d ī - ˌ \ adjective
– di · la · tor \ d ī - ' l ā -t ə r, ' d ī - ˌ \ noun