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extensive

American  
[ik-sten-siv] / ɪkˈstɛn sɪv /

adjective

  1. of great extent; wide, broad.

    an extensive area.

    Synonyms:
    vast, ample, spacious, large, extended
    Antonyms:
    confined, narrow, narrow, limited
  2. covering or extending over a great area.

    extensive travels.

  3. far-reaching; comprehensive; thorough.

    extensive knowledge.

    Antonyms:
    parochial, confined, narrow, narrow, limited
  4. lengthy.

    an extensive journey.

  5. great in amount, number, or degree.

    an extensive fortune; extensive political influence.

  6. of or having extension.

    Space is extensive, time durational.

  7. noting or pertaining to a system of agriculture involving the use or cultivation of large areas of land with a minimum of labor and expense (intensive ).


extensive British  
/ ɪkˈstɛnsɪv /

adjective

  1. having a large extent, area, scope, degree, etc; vast

    extensive deserts

    an extensive inheritance

  2. widespread

    extensive coverage in the press

  3. agriculture involving or farmed with minimum expenditure of capital or labour, esp depending on a large area of land Compare intensive

  4. physics of or relating to a property, measurement, etc, of a macroscopic system that is proportional to the size of the system Compare intensive

    heat is an extensive property

  5. logic

    1. of or relating to logical extension

    2. (of a definition) in terms of the objects to which the term applies rather than its meaning

"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

Other Word Forms

  • extensively adverb
  • extensiveness noun
  • extensivity noun
  • nonextensive adjective
  • nonextensiveness noun
  • preextensive adjective

Etymology

Origin of extensive

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin extēnsīvus, equivalent to Latin extēns(us) (past participle of extendere “to stretch out”) + -īvus adjective suffix; extend, -ive

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.

Kavanaugh, meanwhile, has called on the court to give more extensive consideration to important emergency appeals, including by hearing oral argument and requesting more robust legal briefs.

From The Wall Street Journal

He added that Iraq has extensive "successful" experience in combating desertification and dust storms by stabilising sand dunes.

From Barron's

Both teams have pulled back slightly from the original hints, but the hints have not gone away, even after extensive scrutiny.

From BBC

It is home to extensive road networks and railroads, energy production and heavy industry.

From The Wall Street Journal

This rapid and extensive copying allows cells to survive severe damage, but it comes at a cost.

From Science Daily