dilatation

American  

[dil-uh-tey-shuhn, dahy-luh-] / ˌdɪl əˈteɪ ʃən, ˌdaɪ lə- /

noun

1. a dilated formation or part.

2. Pathology. an abnormal enlargement of an aperture or a canal of the body.

3. Surgery.

   1. an enlargement made in a body aperture or canal for surgical or medical treatment.

   2. a restoration to normal patency of an abnormally small body opening or passageway, as of the anus or esophagus.

4. Mechanics. the increase in volume per unit volume of a homogeneous substance.

---

Other Word Forms

• dilatational adjective

Etymology

Origin of dilatation

1350–1400; Middle English (< Old French ) < Latin dīlātātiōn- (stem of dīlātātiō ), equivalent to dīlātāt ( us ) spread out (past participle of dīlātāre to dilate ) + iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Brachial flow-mediated dilatation was significantly higher following high-flavanol cocoa compared to low-flavanol cocoa 30 and 90 minutes after the stressful period.

From Science Daily • Nov. 18, 2024

In rare cases, the stomach can expand to a dangerous size, known as acute gastric dilatation.

From Washington Post • Nov. 21, 2022

The major disease threatening captive Spix’s was proventricular dilatation disease, which affects the nerves in parrots’ gastrointestinal tract and causes them to slowly waste away.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 8, 2022

Indeed, when the arteries of a few patients were re-examined a month or so after balloon dilatation, doctors could not see where the original narrowings had been.

From Time Magazine Archive

Temporary over-distension or dilatation of the cavities of the heart occurs in violent and protracted exertion, but rapidly subsides and is in no wise harmful to the sound and vigorous heart of the young.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2 "Hearing" to "Helmond" by Various

Related Words

• delay
• development
• expansion
• increase
• postponement