ikˈspand, ek-, -paa(ə)nd verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English expaunden, from Latin expandere, from ex- ex- (I) + pandere to spread, unfold — more at fathom
transitive verb
1. : to spread out : open wide : unfold
expanded his thick underlip and stared … with distended eyes — Liam O'Flaherty
2. : to increase the extent, size, number, volume, or scope of : enlarge
expanded this regiment into a brigade — B.I.Wiley
we need to expand our factual information concerning the behavior of the economy — L.V.Chandler
business is expanding its interest in the liberal arts — C.C.Brown
3.
a. : to express fully : develop in detail : amplify
these views he announced and expanded in three monographs — J.S.Bassett
b. : to write out in full
contractions have been expanded and spellings modernized — J.L.Clifford
c. mathematics : to state in enlarged form : develop in a series
intransitive verb
1. : to spread itself out : open out
each stalk expanding at the top into a … flower head — C.S.Forester
2. : to increase in extent, size, number, volume, or scope : become larger : grow
measure how rapidly the water warmed up and expanded while it was warming — K.K.Darrow
this trend toward conformity will expand and accelerate — P.H.Odegard
his mind never expanded; his emotions never deepened — Kenneth Clark
3. : to speak or write fully or in detail : expatiate — usually used with on or upon
I propose … to expand on three of these common problems — W.R.Bascom
4. : to experience a feeling of well-being : become expansive
the subtle flattery … made the eminent Victorian expand and glow — Osbert Sitwell
Synonyms:
amplify , swell , distend , inflate , dilate : expand , often interchangeable with others in this list, may indicate any enlarging by opening out, spreading, unfolding, extending, or increasing
the captain established a tavern here, expanding it after 10 years into an elaborate stone structure — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania
gradually psalm singing expanded into oratorios and concerts of sacred music — American Guide Series: New Jersey
she hungered for a full environment in which to expand her new powers — Havelock Ellis
amplify often applies to extending by magnifying the volume or scope or adding details
a pipe organ and an amplifying system over which programs can be sent to the entire town — American Guide Series: Michigan
it is on the main argument that the book is to be judged, and I must amplify a summary of it — Julian Huxley
swell sometimes applies to an abnormal expanding, puffing up or out, or increasing in intensity or volume
now the trickle continued throughout the war, and swelled to a flood soon after the war ended — William Clark
Servia's ambitions had been swollen enormously by her successes — A.D.H.Smith
when at anchor here I ride, my bosom swells with pride — W.S.Gilbert
a great determination swelled in him — A.J.Cronin
distend applies to an extending out or a swelling out, often brought about by internal pressures, or to an appearance of swelling or protruding
sails distended by the wind
a stomach distended by gas
her eyes were black with terror, and so distended that the white showed all the way round them — Edith Sitwell
when a piece of oratory intended for a public occasion impresses us as distended, which is to say, filled up with repetition, periphrasis, long grammatical forms, and other impediments to directness — R.M.Weaver
inflate usually implies distention or puffing up by or as if by an air or gas or something else relatively insubstantial
inflate a balloon
inflated currency
poems inflated with fine language
the psychological problems of inflated national ego, heroic delusions of grandeur, and theories of historical inevitability — R.A.Newhall
dilate is likely to refer to a swelling or widening of something known or viewed as circular or spherical
arteries dilated by the drug
the pupils of his eyes were dilated
some stirring experience, the drastic stimulus given by some masterpiece in an art or by some personal emotion, may swiftly dilate your field of consciousness — C.E.Montague