/ ɪkˈspænʃn; NAmE / noun
[ U , C ] an act of increasing or making sth increase in size, amount or importance :
a period of rapid economic expansion
Despite the recession the company is confident of further expansion.
The book is an expansion of a series of lectures given last year.
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from late Latin expansio(n-) , from Latin expandere to spread out, from ex- out + pandere to spread.