expand

[ ik-spand ]
/ ɪkˈspænd /

verb (used with object)

to increase in extent, size, volume, scope, etc.: Heat expands most metals. He hopes to expand his company.
to spread or stretch out; unfold: A bird expands its wings.
to express in fuller form or greater detail; develop: to expand a short story into a novel.
Mathematics.
  1. to write (a mathematical expression) so as to show the products of its factors.Compare factor(def 10).
  2. to rewrite (a mathematical expression) as a sum, product, etc., of terms of a particular kind: to expand a function in a power series.

verb (used without object)

Origin of expand

1400–50; late Middle English expanden < Latin expandere to spread out, equivalent to ex- ex-1 + pandere to extend, stretch

SYNONYMS FOR expand

1 extend, swell, enlarge. See increase. Expand, dilate, distend, inflate imply becoming larger and filling more space. To expand is to spread out, usually in every direction: to expand one's chest. To dilate is especially to increase the width or circumference, and applies to space enclosed within confines or to hollow bodies: to dilate the pupils of the eyes. To distend is to stretch, often beyond the point of natural expansion: to distend an artery. To inflate is to blow out or swell a hollow body with air or gas: to inflate a balloon.

OTHER WORDS FROM expand

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH expand

expand expend (see synonym study at the current entry)

Words nearby expand

exotoxic, exotoxin, exotropia, exp, exp., expand, expanded, expanded code, expanded metal, expanded plastic, expander

British Dictionary definitions for expandability

expand
/ (ɪkˈspænd) /

verb

to make or become greater in extent, volume, size, or scope; increase
to spread out or be spread out; unfold; stretch out
(intr often foll by on) to enlarge or expatiate on (a story, topic, etc) in detail
(intr) to become increasingly relaxed, friendly, or talkative
maths to express (a function or expression) as the sum or product of terms

Derived forms of expand

expandable, adjective

Word Origin for expand

C15: from Latin expandere to spread out, from pandere to spread, extend