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expand

ex·pand [ ik spánd ] (past and past participle ex·pand·ed, present participle ex·pand·ing, 3rd person present singular ex·pands)


verb 
Definition:
 
1. transitive and intransitive verb make or become larger: to become or make something become larger in size, scope, or extent, or greater in number or amount
We need to expand our client base.

2. transitive and intransitive verb describe something more fully: to explain or describe something more fully, usually by giving more detail
The film expands on themes familiar from her earlier work.

3. transitive and intransitive verb open out: to open out or open something out wider after being kept folded in

4. transitive verb give full form of something: to give the full form of something such as the abbreviation of a word

5. intransitive verb relax: to relax and become friendlier and more talkative

6. transitive and intransitive verb physics increase in size or volume: to increase or cause something to increase in size or volume as a result of a rise in temperature or decrease in pressure

7. transitive and intransitive verb mathematics rewrite mathematical expression: to rewrite a mathematical expression as the sum or product of its terms, or be rewritten in this way. For example, (x+1)(x-1)+2x expands to x2+2x-1.

[15th century. Directly or via Anglo-Norman< Latin expandere "spread out" < pandere "spread"]

ex·pand·a·bil·i·ty [ ik spàndə bíllətee ] noun
ex·pand·a·ble [ ik spándəb'l ] adjective
ex·pand·er [ ik spándər ] noun
ex·pan·si·ble [ ik spánssəb'l ] adjective

Word Key: Synonyms

See increase.

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