First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
expand
verb ex·pand \ik-ˈspand\
: to increase in size, range, or amount : to become bigger
: to cause (something) to increase in size, range, or amount : to make (something) bigger
: to write (something) in full form
Full Definition of EXPAND
transitive verb
1
: to open up : unfold
2
: to increase the extent, number, volume, or scope of : enlarge
3
a : to express at length or in greater detail b : to write out in full <expand all abbreviations> c : to subject to mathematical expansion <expand a function in a power series>
intransitive verb
1
: to open out : spread
2
: to increase in extent, number, volume, or scope
3
: to speak or write fully or in detail <expanded on the theme>
4
: to feel generous or optimistic
— ex·pand·abil·i·ty \-ˌspan-də-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
— ex·pand·able \-ˈspan-də-bəl\ adjective
See expand defined for English-language learners
See expand defined for kids
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Origin of EXPAND
Middle English expaunden, from Latin expandere, from ex- + pandere to spread — more at fathom
Related to EXPAND
- Synonyms
- amplify, develop, dilate (on or upon), elaborate (on), enlarge (on or upon), flesh (out)
- Antonyms
- abbreviate, abridge, condense, shorten
Synonym Discussion of EXPAND
expand, amplify, swell, distend, inflate, dilate mean to increase in size or volume. expand may apply regardless of the manner of increase (as growth, unfolding, addition of parts) <a business that expands every year>. amplify implies the extension or enlargement of something inadequate <amplify the statement with details>. swell implies gradual expansion beyond a thing's original or normal limits <the bureaucracy swelled to unmanageable proportions>. distend implies outward extension caused by pressure from within <a distended abdomen>. inflate implies expanding by introduction of air or something insubstantial and suggests a vulnerability to sudden collapse <an inflated ego>. dilate applies especially to expansion of circumference <dilated pupils>.
Rhymes with EXPAND
armband, at hand, backhand, backland, badland, bandstand, barehand, benchland, blackland, brass band, broadband, brushland, bushland, cabstand, cloudland, coastland, co-brand, command, cowhand, crash-land, cropland, crown land, dead hand, deckhand, demand, disband, dockhand, dockland, downland, dreamland, dryland, duneland, farmhand, farmland, fenland, field hand, filmland, firebrand, firsthand, flatland, forehand, four-hand, free hand, freehand, gangland, glad-hand, Gotland, grandstand, grassland, handstand, hardstand, hatband, headband, headstand, heartland, heathland, home stand, hour hand, Iceland, in hand, inkstand, inland, iron hand, jack stand, jug band, kickstand, Kokand, Lapland, left-hand, longhand, lymph gland, mainland, marshland, misbrand, newsstand, nightstand, northland, noseband, off-brand, offhand, oil gland, old hand, on hand, outland, outstand, parkland, passband, pineland, playland, proband, Queensland, quicksand, rangeland, remand, repand, Rhineland, ribband, right-hand, rimland, ring stand, roband, salt gland, scabland, screenland, scrubland, seastrand, shorthand, sideband, southland, spaceband, stagehand, steel band, summand, swampland, sweatband, sweat gland, tar sand, Thailand, thirdhand, tideland, trainband, unhand, unmanned, waistband, washstand, watchband, wave band, wetland, whip hand, wildland, withstand, wristband, X band
EXPAND Defined for Kids
expand
verb ex·pand \ik-ˈspand\
ex·pand·edex·pand·ing
Definition of EXPAND for Kids
1
: to grow or increase in size, number, or amount <The airport is expanding.>
2
: to open wide : unfold <The eagle's wings expanded.>
3
: to take up or cause to take up more space <Metals expand under heat.>
4
: to speak or write about in greater detail <Would you expand on that idea?>
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