The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Dilate \Di*late"\ (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dilated; p.
pr. & vb. n. Dilating.] [L. dilatare; either fr. di- = dis-
+ latus wide, not the same word as latus, used as p. p. of
ferre to bear (see Latitude); or fr. dilatus, used as p. p.
of differre to separate (see Delay, Tolerate, Differ,
and cf. Dilatory): cf. F. dilater.]
1. To expand; to distend; to enlarge or extend in all
directions; to swell; -- opposed to contract; as, the
air dilates the lungs; air is dilated by increase of heat.
[1913 Webster]
2. To enlarge upon; to relate at large; to tell copiously or
diffusely. [R.]
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Do me the favor to dilate at full
What hath befallen of them and thee till now.
--Shak.
Syn: To expand; swell; distend; enlarge; spread out; amplify;
expatiate.
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