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

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

Then he looked into his eyes, which appeared dilated, and saw that his face was purple.

From Los Angeles Times

After she was released, she went to the hospital where doctors told her she had already dilated two centimeters.

From Los Angeles Times

He had dilated pupils, a high heart rate, and had to be checked every 20 minutes until the plane arrived at Heathrow.

From BBC

Related Words

• expound