dilate
to make wider or larger; cause to expand.
Archaic. to describe or develop at length.
to spread out; expand.
to speak or write at length; expatiate (often followed by on or upon).
Origin of dilate
1synonym study For dilate
Other words from dilate
- di·lat·a·bil·i·ty, noun
- di·lat·a·ble, adjective
- non·di·lat·a·bil·i·ty, noun
- non·di·lat·a·ble, adjective
- o·ver·di·late, verb, o·ver·di·lat·ed, o·ver·di·lat·ing.
- re·di·late, verb, re·di·lat·ed, re·di·lat·ing.
- self-di·lat·ed, adjective
- sub·di·lat·ed, adjective
- un·di·lat·a·ble, adjective
- un·di·lat·ed, adjective
- un·di·lat·ing, adjective
Words that may be confused with dilate
- dilate , dilute
Words Nearby dilate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use dilate in a sentence
In response, it dilates the blood vessels near the surface of our skin, allowing the blood to release more heat into the surrounding air.
What extreme heat means for the future of the Summer Olympics | Claire Maldarelli | July 23, 2021 | Popular-ScienceIt can also dilate its nostrils to boost its trunk’s carrying capacity while snorting up water, researchers report online June 2 in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface.
Newly recognized tricks help elephants suck up huge amounts of water | Sid Perkins | June 3, 2021 | Science NewsFor instance, CGRP causes blood vessels to dilate in a variety of systems including the intestines.
New drugs that block a brain chemical are game changers for some migraine sufferers | Karen J. Bannan | March 22, 2021 | Science NewsHeat dilates blood vessels that surround the lumbar region of your spine, increasing the flow of oxygen to your back muscles and stimulating sensory receptors in your skin to help heal damaged tissue and relieve discomfort.
The best heated chairs for pain relief and maximum comfort | PopSci Commerce Team | January 6, 2021 | Popular-ScienceWith close attention, our pupils dilate and contract over and over.
Can’t remember? Maybe you multitask too much between screens | Alison Pearce Stevens | December 14, 2020 | Science News For Students
This will make your pupils dilate, making you more attractive.
Kettlewell used to dilate on the great sacrificial feast of charity.
The English Church in the Eighteenth Century | Charles J. Abbey and John H. OvertonAnother room had been added to the cabin—and the fragrant smell of cedar made her nostrils dilate.
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine | John Fox, Jr.In that September morning his soul seemed to dilate with every breath he drew.
The Child of Pleasure | Gabriele D'AnnunzioLittle need to dilate on the situation as it appeared to Mrs Iver!
Tristram of Blent | Anthony HopeFrequently the nerves dilate the blood vessels of the skin, thus helping the sweat glands to secrete, by giving them more blood.
A Civic Biology | George William Hunter
British Dictionary definitions for dilate
/ (daɪˈleɪt, dɪ-) /
to expand or cause to expand; make or become wider or larger: the pupil of the eye dilates in the dark
(intr; often foll by on or upon) to speak or write at length; expand or enlarge
Origin of dilate
1Derived forms of dilate
- dilatable, adjective
- dilatability or dilatableness, noun
- dilation or dilatation (ˌdaɪləˈteɪʃən, ˌdɪ-), noun
- dilatational, adjective
- dilative (daɪˈleɪtɪv, dɪ-), adjective
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
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