dilation

[dahy-ley-shuh n, di-]

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noun

the act of dilating; state of being dilated.

dilatation.

RELATED WORDS

extension, expansion

Origin of dilation

First recorded in 1590–1600; dilate + -ion

Related formsnon·di·la·tion, nouno·ver·di·la·tion, nounself-di·la·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dilation

Historical Examples of dilation

White is produced by the dilation, black by the contraction, of the particles of sight.
Timaeus
Plato
The eyes of Ian surpassed those of Victor in the matter of dilation.
The Red Man's Revenge
R.M. Ballantyne
Thank Heaven, there is yet no dilation of the pupil; it is not too late!
The Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Tales
Bret Harte
During this operation they continue for a time to increase in size, in consequence of the dilation of the pent-up gas by the heat.
Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I
Arnold Cooley
It was a sort of dilation of unshed tears, and yet they were not wet.
Sir Tom
Mrs. Oliphant

Word Origin and History for dilation

1590s, formed from dilate on the mistaken assumption that the -ate in that word was the Latin verbal suffix (it is instead part of the stem); the proper form, dilatation, is older (c.1400).

Medicine definitions for dilation