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expand

ex·pand

UK/ɪkˈspænd/ US/ɛkˈspænd/ fairly common

verb

1.

extend in one or more directions

  • “The dough expands”
Synonyms
Antonyms
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 stronger

  • “The economy was booming”
Synonyms
5.

exaggerate or make bigger

  • “The charges were inflated”
Synonyms
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”
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Antonyms
7.

expand the influence of

  • “The King extended his rule to the Eastern part of the continent”
Synonyms

Origin

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.

Phrases

  • expand one's wings

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.