expanse

American  

[ik-spans] / ɪkˈspæns /

noun

1. an uninterrupted space or area; a wide extent of anything.

   an expanse of water.

   Synonyms:

   stretch, range, reach, sweep

2. something that is spread out, especially over a relatively large area.

   that great expanse, the sky.

3. expansion; extension.

   the wide expanse of scientific knowledge.

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expanse British  

/ ɪkˈspæns /

noun

1. an uninterrupted surface of something that spreads or extends, esp over a wide area; stretch

   an expanse of water

2. expansion or extension

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Etymology

Origin of expanse

1660–70; < New Latin expānsum, noun use of neuter of Latin expānsus, past participle of expandere to expand

Example Sentences

With the world upside down, the trees dip into a velvety expanse of stars.

From Literature

Instead, it fell off his hand somewhere in a sprawling expanse of turquoise-blue water.

From The Wall Street Journal

About themselves, about the infinite expanse of creativity, about the power of music to cross borders, outlast wars, span centuries and still inspire.

From Los Angeles Times

The vast expanse of water down the left had gobbled up Young's ball less than 24 hours earlier.

From BBC

But its endless expanses have been swept by panic since an outbreak of highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease, which was declared a national disaster in February.

From Barron's

Related Words

• plain
• stretch
• tract
• wilderness