expand
verb/ɪkˈspænd/ · /ɛkˈspænd/
Etymology Recorded in Middle English since 1422 (as expanden, expaunden), from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandō (“to spread out”), itself from ex- (“out, outwards”) + pandō (“to spread”). Doublet of spawn.
11 senses
- 1To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a…
- 2To increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something).
- 3To express (something) at length and/or in detail.
- 4To rewrite (an expression) as a longer, yet equivalent…
- 5To become, by rewriting, a longer, yet equivalent, sum of terms.
- 6To multiply both the numerator and the denominator of a…
- 7To change or grow from smaller to larger in form…
- 8To increase in extent, number, volume or scope.
- 9To speak or write at length or in detail.
- 10To feel generous or optimistic.
- 11In a hierarchical list (such as a directory tree or…
To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open.
- You can expand this compact umbrella to cover a large table.
To increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something).
- A flower expands its leaves.
- Then with expanded wings he steers his flight.1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
2 more examples
- This has evidently been encouraging, for the current winter timetable - not even with the benefit of summer holiday traffic - shows that the two trains each way have been expanded to four.1961 October 23, “The winter timetables of British Railways: Scottish Region”, in Trains Illustrated, page 594:
- When an ultrasonic beam is fired at the microcannons, the emulsion evaporates, expanding rapidly into gas. This creates enough force to push the nanobullets out at velocities reaching several metres per second.2016 February 1, Tom Whipple, “Microcannon firing nanobullets: the future of targeted medicine”, in The Times:
To express (something) at length and/or in detail.
Algebra, Mathematics, Sciences To rewrite (an expression) as a longer, yet equivalent, sum of terms.
- Use the binomial theorem to expand #123;(x#43;1)#125;⁴.
Algebra, Mathematics, Sciences Of an expression To become, by rewriting, a longer, yet equivalent, sum of terms.
- The expression #123;(x#43;1)#125;⁴ expands to x⁴#43;4x³#43;6x²#43;4x#43;1.
Arithmetic To multiply both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same (non-zero) number (which yields a fraction of equal value).
- Expanding 4#47;7 by 3 gives 12#47;21.
To change or grow from smaller to larger in form, number, or size.
- Many materials expand when heated.
- This compact umbrella expands to cover a large table.
To increase in extent, number, volume or scope.
To speak or write at length or in detail.
- He expanded on his plans for the business.
- There was some laughter, and Roddle was left free to expand his ideas on the periodic visits of cowboys to the town. “Mason Rickets, he had ten big punkins a-sittin' in front of his store, an' them fellers from the Upside-down-F ranch shot 'em up […]”1899, Stephen Crane, chapter 1, in Twelve O'Clock:
To feel generous or optimistic.
Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences In a hierarchical list (such as a directory tree or table of contents), to show the subentries of (an entry).
- Derived terms
- coexpand, companding, expandability, expandable, expandedly, expandedness, expander, expandingly, expandingness, expand one's wings, hyperexpanded, misexpand, nonexpanded, nonexpanding, overexpand, reexpand, semiexpanded, underexpanded, unexpanded, unexpanding
- Related terms
- expanse, expansible, expansile, expansion, expansionism, expansive