dilate

American  

[dahy-leyt, dih-, dahy-leyt] / daɪˈleɪt, dɪ-, ˈdaɪ leɪt /

verb (used with object)

dilated, dilating

1. to make wider or larger; cause to expand.

2. Archaic. to describe or develop at length.

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verb (used without object)

dilated, dilating

1. to spread out; expand.

2. to speak or write at length; expatiate (often followed by on orupon ).

dilate British  

/ ˌdaɪləˈteɪʃən, ˌdɪ-, daɪˈleɪt, dɪ-, daɪˈleɪtɪv, dɪ- /

verb

1. to expand or cause to expand; make or become wider or larger

   the pupil of the eye dilates in the dark

2. (intr; often foll by on or upon) to speak or write at length; expand or enlarge

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Related Words

See expand.

Other Word Forms

• dilatability noun
• dilatable adjective
• dilatational adjective
• dilation noun
• dilative adjective
• nondilatability noun
• nondilatable adjective
• overdilate verb
• redilate verb
• self-dilated adjective
• subdilated adjective
• undilatable adjective
• undilated adjective
• undilating adjective

Etymology

Origin of dilate

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English dilaten, from Middle French dilater, “to comment at length, enlarge,” from Latin dīlātāre “to spread out, widen,” equivalent to dī- di- ² + lāt(us) “wide” + -āre infinitive suffix

Example Sentences

Isiekwe returned to the England squad and Test action after having open-heart surgery to fix a dilated aorta in September 2022.

From BBC

Scholars and intellectuals dilating in their little books: None of that matters anymore.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ms Greenwood says doctors are still unsure what caused the heart attack and that her previously diagnosed dilated cardiomyopathy was potentially not a factor.

From BBC

Atropine eye drops are typically used to dilate the pupil before eye exams.

From The Wall Street Journal

Woo glances up at the last second, and his large pupils dilate in recognition.

From Literature

Related Words

• expound