ikˈsten(t)siv, (ˈ)ek|s-, -sēv also -səv adjective
Etymology: Late Latin extensivus, from Latin extensus (past participle of extendere to extend) + -ivus -ive — more at extend
1. obsolete : capable of being extended : applicable
inability … may be more general and extensive to all acts — Jonathan Edwards
2. : of, relating to, or marked by logical extension
an extensive proposition
or spatial extension
the extensive nature of the physical world
: extensional
3.
a. : widely extended in scope or application : broad in range : wide , comprehensive
extensive reading in literature
extensive repairs
extensive privileges
: very complete : thorough , far-reaching
an extensive knowledge of languages
taking extensive precautions
b. : widely extended in area
extensive farms and prairies
: extending over a large surface or space
extensive stretches of ocean — S.F.Mason
: ranging over a wide area
extensive travels in Europe
c. : marked by considerable length
a book with an extensive introduction
an extensive trip
or detail
an extensive report on the trial
d. : large in amount
extensive funds will be needed
or extent
an extensive business
extensive railroad development
extensive efforts
e. : considerable in number : numerous
extensive examples of picture writing
4. : of, relating to, or involving farming in which large areas of land are utilized with minimum outlay and labor
producing wheat under extensive conditions
agriculture of the extensive type
— opposed to intensive
• ex·ten·sive·ly -sə̇vlē, -li adverb
• ex·ten·sive·ness -sivnə̇s, -sēv- also -səv- noun -es