3 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Expand \Ex*pand"\, v. i.
To become widely opened, spread apart, dilated, distended, or
enlarged; as, flowers expand in the spring; metals expand by
heat; the heart expands with joy. --Dryden.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Expand \Ex*pand"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Expanded}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Expanding}.] [L. expandere, expansum; ex out + pandere to
spread out, to throw open; perh. akin to E. patent. Cf.
{Spawn}.]
1. To lay open by extending; to open wide; to spread out; to
diffuse; as, a flower expands its leaves.
Then with expanded wings he steers his flight.
--Milton.
2. To cause the particles or parts of to spread themselves or
stand apart, thus increasing bulk without addition of
substance; to make to occupy more space; to dilate; to
distend; to extend every way; to enlarge; -- opposed to
{contract}; as, to expand the chest; heat expands all
bodies; to expand the sphere of benevolence.
3. (Math.) To state in enlarged form; to develop; as, to
expand an equation. See {Expansion}, 5.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
expand
v 1: extend in one or more directions; "The dough expands" [syn:
{spread out}] [ant: {shrink}]
2: become larger in size or volume or quantity; "his business
expanded rapidly"
3: make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity; "expand
the house by adding another wing"
4: grow stronger; "The economy was booming" [syn: {boom}, {prosper},
{thrive}, {get ahead}, {flourish}]
5: exaggerate or make bigger; "The charges were inflated" [syn:
{inflate}, {blow up}, {amplify}]
6: add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning
of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing;
"She elaborated on the main ideas in her dissertation"
[syn: {elaborate}, {lucubrate}, {expatiate}, {exposit}, {enlarge},
{flesh out}, {expound}, {dilate}] [ant: {abridge}]
7: expand the influence of; "The King extended his rule to the
Eastern part of the continent" [syn: {extend}]