expand

Verb
Synonyms: spread outboomthriveflourishinflateblow upamplifyelaboratelucubrateexpatiateexpositenlarge

WordNet 3.0

Verb (7)

  1. extend in one or more directions“The dough expands”Synonyms: spread out
  2. become larger in size or volume or quantity“his business expanded rapidly”
  3. make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity“expand the house by adding another wing”
  4. grow vigorously“The deer population in this town is thriving”“business is booming”Synonyms: boomthriveflourish
  5. exaggerate or make bigger“The charges were inflated”Synonyms: inflateblow upamplify
  6. add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing“She elaborated on the main ideas in her dissertation”Synonyms: elaboratelucubrateexpatiateexpositenlargeflesh outexpounddilate
  7. expand the influence of“The King extended his rule to the Eastern part of the continent”Synonyms: extend
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Expand \Ex*pand"\, v. i. To become widely opened, spread apart, dilated, distended, or enlarged; as, flowers expand in the spring; metals expand by heat; the heart expands with joy. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
Expand \Ex*pand"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Expanding.] [L. expandere, expansum; ex out + pandere to spread out, to throw open; perh. akin to E. patent. Cf. Spawn.]

1.To lay open by extending; to open wide; to spread out; to diffuse; as, a flower expands its leaves. [1913 Webster]

Then with expanded wings he steers his flight.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

2.To cause the particles or parts of to spread themselves or stand apart, thus increasing bulk without addition of substance; to make to occupy more space; to dilate; to distend; to extend every way; to enlarge; -- opposed to contract; as, to expand the chest; heat expands all bodies; to expand the sphere of benevolence. [1913 Webster]

3.(Math.) To state in enlarged form; to develop; as, to expand an equation. See Expansion, 5. [1913 Webster]

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