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dilate

[ dahy-leyt, dih-, dahy-leyt ]
/ daɪˈleɪt, dɪ-, ˈdaɪ leɪt /
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See synonyms for: dilate / dilated / dilatable on Thesaurus.com

Definition of dilate

verb (used with object), di·lat·ed, di·lat·ing.
to make wider or larger; cause to expand.
Archaic. to describe or develop at length.
verb (used without object), di·lat·ed, di·lat·ing.
to spread out; expand.
to speak or write at length; expatiate (often followed by on or upon).
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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

synonym study for dilate

1. See expand.

OTHER WORDS FROM dilate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH dilate

dilate , dilute
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use dilate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dilate

dilate
/ (daɪˈleɪt, dɪ-) /

verb
to expand or cause to expand; make or become wider or largerthe pupil of the eye dilates in the dark
(intr; often foll by on or upon) to speak or write at length; expand or enlarge

Derived forms of dilate

Word Origin for dilate

C14: from Latin dīlātāre to spread out, amplify, from dis- apart + lātus wide
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for dilate

dilate
[ dī-lāt, dīlāt′ ]

v.
To make or become wider or larger.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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