expand

[ik-spand]

verb (used with object)

1. to increase in extent, size, volume, scope, etc..

   Heat expands most metals. He hopes to expand his company.

   Synonyms: enlarge, swell, extend

2. to spread or stretch out; unfold.

   A bird expands its wings.

3. to express in fuller form or greater detail; develop.

   to expand a short story into a novel.

4. Mathematics.

   1. to write (a mathematical expression) so as to show the products of its factors.

   2. to rewrite (a mathematical expression) as a sum, product, etc., of terms of a particular kind.

      to expand a function in a power series.

verb (used without object)

1. to increase or grow in extent, bulk, scope, etc..

   Most metals expand with heat. The mind expands with experience.

2. to spread out; unfold; develop.

   The buds had not yet expanded.

3. to express something more fully or in greater detail (usually followed by on orupon ).

   to expand on a statement.

expand

/ ɪkˈspænd /

verb

1. to make or become greater in extent, volume, size, or scope; increase

2. to spread out or be spread out; unfold; stretch out

3. to enlarge or expatiate on (a story, topic, etc) in detail

4. (intr) to become increasingly relaxed, friendly, or talkative

5. maths to express (a function or expression) as the sum or product of terms

Other Word Forms

• expandable adjective
• expandible adjective
• expandability noun
• expandibility noun
• nonexpanding adjective
• overexpand verb
• preexpand verb (used with object)
• reexpand verb
• self-expanding adjective
• superexpand verb
• unexpandable adjective
• unexpanding adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of expand¹

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English expanden, from Latin expandere “to spread out,” equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + pandere “to extend, stretch”

Word History and Origins

Origin of expand¹

C15: from Latin expandere to spread out, from pandere to spread, extend

Synonym Study

Expand, dilate, distend, inflate imply becoming larger and filling more space. To expand is to spread out, usually in every direction: to expand one's chest. To dilate is especially to increase the width or circumference, and applies to space enclosed within confines or to hollow bodies: to dilate the pupils of the eyes. To distend is to stretch, often beyond the point of natural expansion: to distend an artery. To inflate is to blow out or swell a hollow body with air or gas: to inflate a balloon.

Example Sentences

"If the government expands its digital ID offering, this it could kill off a growth industry," she said.

Read more on BBC

But as banks moved away from securities trading and expanded their lending activities, that also produced risks, he said.

Read more on MarketWatch

In more recent years, the U.S. oil and gas producers have been careful not to expand production quickly and have focused on increasing dividends to shareholders and on stock buybacks.

Read more on MarketWatch

The U.K. bank’s mortgage volumes are increasing, net interest margins are expanding and provisions for bad loans are low, he notes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Conservative Party, in power when this case began, seemed ready to brand China an “enemy” in this instance while otherwise trying to expand commercial ties.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bolster 
• broaden 
• develop 
• enlarge 
• grow 
• increase 
• open 
• spread 
• swell 
• widen 

When To Use

What does expand mean?

To expand is to increase the extent or dimensions of something, as when a balloon expands when you blow air into it.Expand can describe the increasing size of something in height, width, length, scope, boundary, or any other measurable unit of size, as when you expand an app menu by clicking on a down arrow.To expand can also mean to stretch out or unfold, such as when a bird expands its wings when it gets ready to fly.Figuratively, to expand means to develop or to express more fully, as in Disney really expanded the Star Wars universe when it bought the rights to it. A common use of expand is in the phrase expand upon, meaning to give greater detail or context. When teachers tell you to expand upon your essay’s theme, for example, they want you to describe the theme in more detail or give the theme more context so that readers will understand it better.Example: Click and drag the corner of the square to expand it on the digital canvas.