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- pronunciation:
- ihk
spaend
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, intransitive verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb), Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
expands, expanding, expanded |
| definition 1: |
to make larger or more extensive.
The school expanded its library last year and added more computers.These companies are hoping to expand business in Asia.
- synonyms:
- enlarge, extend, increase
- antonyms:
- abridge, compact, compress, contract, deflate, shorten, shrink
- similar words:
- aggrandize, amplify, augment, broaden, carry, dilate, enhance, escalate, inflate, lengthen, piece, protract, spread, stretch, thicken, widen
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| definition 2: |
to spread wide.
The bird expanded its wings and soared above the water.- synonyms:
- open, outspread, spread, unfold
- similar words:
- extend, stretch, unfurl
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| definition 3: |
to develop in greater detail.
You should expand the ideas in this paragraph.- synonyms:
- amplify, develop, elaborate on, enlarge upon
- antonyms:
- abridge, condense
- similar words:
- augment, detail, expound
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| related words: |
billow, bloat, blow up, bulge, bulk, distend, fan, grow, labor, multiply, unfold |
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| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| definition 1: |
to become larger or more extensive.
His waist certainly expanded after he quit playing sports.The company expanded during the 1980s.- synonyms:
- augment, enlarge, extend, increase, swell
- antonyms:
- condense, contract, decrease, shrink
- similar words:
- belly, broaden, dilate, grow, mushroom, rise, snowball, spread, thicken, wax, widen
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| definition 2: |
to express in greater detail (usu. fol. by "on").
I will expand on these ideas in a later chapter.I'm not sure I understand; could you expand a little?- synonyms:
- amplify, develop, elaborate on, enlarge upon
- similar words:
- dilate upon, expound
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| related words: |
accrue, accumulate, bag, balloon, bell, bloat, branch out, bulge, bulk, burst, fan, fill, heave, inflate, open, stretch, unfold |
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| derivations: |
expandable (expandible) (adj.), expanded (adj.), expander (n.) |
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