Synonyms

dilate

American

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

verb (used with object)

to make wider or larger; cause to expand.
Archaic. to describe or develop at length.

verb (used without object)

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

dilate British

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

verb

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

"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

Synonym Usage

See expand.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

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

Explanation

To dilate something is to make it wider. When the light fades, the pupil of your eye will dilate, meaning it looks bigger. The verb dilate comes from the Latin word dilatare, which means “enlarge” or “spread out.” When something stretches, expands, or becomes wider, it is said to dilate. Usually the word dilate is used when the opening of something circular becomes larger, but every so often you might hear someone refer to the need to dilate someone's understanding of quantum physics, global warming, livestock breeding, or any other topic.

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Vocabulary lists containing dilate

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

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Selected Short Stories of Flannery O'Connor

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"The Tragedy of Hamlet," Vocabulary from Act 1

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On Dilate she mostly focuses on a single subject: a traumatic romance she's been involved in for about a year.

From Time Magazine Archive

DiFranco's new CD, Dilate, is her best yet--her vocals and guitar work still seethe, but she's added atmospheric touches, such as a trippy hip-hop beat on a cover of the song Amazing Grace.

From Time Magazine Archive

Dilate, di-lāt′, v.t. to spread out in all directions: to enlarge: the opposite of contract.—v.i. to widen: to swell out: to speak at length.—ns.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

Goldfish swim in a bowl, glisten in sunlight, Dilate to a gorgeous size, blow delicate bubbles, Drowse among dark green weeds.

From The House of Dust; a symphony by Aiken, Conrad

Dilate not at all, but urge him to leave the town without delay.

From The Son of Clemenceau by Dumas fils, Alexandre

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023