ikˈstend, ek- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English extenden, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French estendre, extendre, from Latin extendere, from ex- ex- (I) + tendere to stretch — more at thin
transitive verb
1.
[Middle English extenden, from Medieval Latin extendere (from Latin) or Anglo-French estendre, from Old French estendre, extendre ]
a. Britain : to assess the value of (as lands or buildings)
b. Britain : to take possession of by a writ of extent
c. obsolete : to take by force : seize
2. : to lay out at full length
with his body extended on the ground
: put into a horizontal and usually straight position
extending their arms in front of them
: straighten out (as a limb or other bodily part) : unbend
alternately flexing his arm and extending it
3.
a. : to stretch out especially forcibly : stretch out to the fullest length
with the sails extended by yards
b. obsolete : to stretch, fill, or inflate beyond normal limits : strain , distend
c. : to cause (as a horse) to move at full stride
a promising racehorse that had so far never been really extended
: push to full stride
d. : to apply or exert (oneself) energetically or to full capacity
people who would rather accept federal bounties than extend themselves — F.L.Allen
his capacity for handling an immense amount of work without appearing to extend himself — Lamp
e. : to increase the quantity or bulk of (a product) by the addition of a relatively inexpensive or otherwise readily available substance so as to reduce cost, improve efficiency, or attain other desired effects
extending ground meat with cereal
sometimes : adulterate
4.
a. : to stretch forth : hold out
she extended both her hands to him — W.F.deMorgan
a bald eagle with its wings extended
b. : to present for acceptance or rejection : make the offer of : proffer
extending their greetings
extended hospitality to them
c. : to make available (as a fund or privilege) often in response to an explicit or implied request : grant
financial aid will be extended where needed — Paul Wooton
5.
a. : to cause to stretch out or reach (as from one point to another)
extending the railroad to the next city
: cause to span an interval (as of distance, space, or time)
a rope bridge was extended over the chasm
: push to a farther point
extending the frontiers of knowledge
city boundaries were extended to take in the entire county — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania
: open out (a compass)
b. : to cause to be longer : lengthen , prolong , protract
extending their visit
specifically : to prolong the time of payment of (as a debt) beyond the time originally stipulated
c. : to cause to project in one or more directions : stick out
when disturbed, the creature extends its spines
d. : to bring to a further degree of development
the Anglo-Saxons extended the use of the plow — L.D.Stamp
: cause to be more nearly complete or perfect : advance , further
extending man's knowledge of the universe
the rest of the decade consolidated and extended those gains — Oscar Handlin
e. : to transfer (figures) from one column to another (as in bookkeeping) : carry forward
f. : to compute the amount of (as in accounting) : indicate the amount of
the credit balance will be extended on the accounts
6.
a. : to cause to be of greater area or volume
extending the surface of metal plates by hammering
: increase the size of : enlarge : make greater in extent
trying to extend its staff of trained personnel
b. : to increase the scope, meaning, or application of
extending the sense of a word
the name … was easily extended to the new land — P.E.James
extend the force of the laws
: increase the action or capacity of
beauty, I suppose, opens the heart, extends the consciousness — Algernon Blackwood
: make more comprehensive, inclusive, or intensive : broaden , amplify
extending the range of their duties
c. archaic : to enlarge upon in imagination : exaggerate
d. : to write out (as shorthand notes) in expanded form : write out or set forth in detail
intransitive verb
1. : to stretch out (as in distance, space, or time) : range
rugged hills and ravines extend in all directions — American Guide Series: Minnesota
occupation of the fortress extended from the second century B.C. to the first century A.D. — J.E.M.White
: reach , spread
2. : to span an interval (as of distance, space, or time)
an ancient bridge extends over the river
3. : to jut out : stick out : protrude , project
through a cupola … extends a thin square chimney — American Guide Series: Minnesota
fruit trees that extended out over the farm fences — Sherwood Anderson
4. of a serviceman : to agree to remain on active duty for another term
Synonyms:
lengthen , elongate , prolong , protract : extend , like others in this group, applies to a drawing out in length; it may suggest also similar or comparable drawing out in breadth, size, or range
extend a road
an extended trip
extending his vacation
federal grants to the states to extend and improve their health and welfare services for mothers and children — Americana Annual
lengthen is likely to refer to what constitutes or may be thought of as similar in some way to a line
lengthen a road
a lengthened period
the lengthening of the average life span by more than twenty years since the last century — Collier's Year Book
elongate suggests a stretching out resulting in a long narrow frame or shape or to unusual length
elongated fibers
an elongated segment
the old man's gaunt and elongated frame
prolong is likely to indicate a drawing out or stretching out in duration
a prolonged discussion
withstanding a prolonged siege
a strange, secret life, prolonged for half a century in Paris — Van Wyck Brooks
protract , often close to extend or prolong , may suggest needlessness, boredom, vexation, indefiniteness
litigation protracted through a decade
the protracted interruption of steel production by labor difficulties — Americana Annual
his temptation will be to protract negotiations on the minor points still outstanding — New Statesman & Nation