definitions

expansive

[ ik-span-siv ]
/ ɪkˈspæn sɪv /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR expansive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

having a wide range or extent; comprehensive; extensive: expansive mountain scenery.
(of a person's character or speech) effusive, unrestrained, free, or open: Our expansive host welcomed us warmly.
tending to expand or capable of expanding.
causing expansion: the expansive force of heat.
working by expansion, as an engine.
Psychiatry. marked by an abnormal euphoric state and by delusions of grandeur.

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RELATED WORDS

extensive, inclusive, far-reaching, wide-ranging, lavish, generous, ample, big, elastic, great, large, thorough, voluminous, wide, widespread, expansile, all-embracing, dilatant, unrepressed, unsuppressed

Nearby words

expansion team, expansion wave, expansionary, expansionism, expansionist, expansive, expansive bit, expansive classification, expansivity, expat, expatiate

Origin of expansive

First recorded in 1645–55; expans(ion) + -ive
Related forms
Can be confusedexpansive expensive (see synonym study at expensive)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for expansive

British Dictionary definitions for expansive

expansive

/ (ɪkˈspænsɪv) /

adjective

able or tending to expand or characterized by expansion
wide; extensive
friendly, open, or talkativean expansive person
grand or extravagantan expansive way of life
psychiatry lacking restraint in the expression of feelings, esp in having delusions of grandeur or being inclined to overvalue oneself or one's work
Derived Formsexpansively, adverbexpansiveness, noun
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

Word Origin and History for expansive

expansive

adj.

1650s, "tending to expand," from Latin expans-, past participle stem of expandere (see expand) + -ive. Related: Expansively; expansiveness.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper