dilation

[ dahy-ley-shuh n, di- ]

/ daɪˈleɪ ʃən, dɪ- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dilation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of dilating; state of being dilated.

dilatation.

RELATED WORDS

extension, expansion

Nearby words

dilatate, dilatation, dilatation and curettage, dilatator, dilate, dilation, dilation and curettage, dilation and evacuation, dilation and extraction, dilative, dilatometer

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

Breadth is the dilation of the heart, length is long-suffering, height is hope, and depth is faith.
A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 1 (of 10)|Franois-Marie Arouet (AKA Voltaire)
The dilation of the air, by virtue of its elastic force, is found to be very surprising.
The Mosaic History of the Creation of the World|Thomas Wood
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
A formidable condensation, awaiting the gigantic hour of dilation!
The Man Who Laughs|Victor Hugo

But the contraction and dilation of her pupils were so swift that no one but an expectant observer would have noted the change.
The Crime Club|William Holt-White

Word Origin and History for dilation

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

dilation

[ dī-lā′shən, dĭ- ]

n.

The act of expanding or the condition of being expanded.

Dilatation.

Science definitions for dilation

dilation

[ dī-lā′shən, dĭ- ]

The widening or stretching of an opening or a hollow structure in the body.