dilate Definition
di·late (dī′lāt′; dī lāt′, də-)
transitive verb -·lat′ed, -·lat′·ing
to make wider or larger; cause to expand or swell; stretch
Etymology: ME dilaten < L dilatare < dis-, apart + latus, wide: see lateral
intransitive verb
- to become wider or larger; swell
- to speak or write in detail (on or upon a subject)
dilate Related Forms
di·lat′·abil′·ity noun
di·lat′·able adjective
di·lat′·ive adjective
dilate Synonyms
dilate Usage Examples
Object
- cardiomyopathy: The second study will involve 200 patients whose hearts are failing specifically because of dilated cardiomyopathy - a heart muscle disorder.
- cervix: Question I was just wondering what a softened and slightly dilated cervix could mean.
- artery: He would then spray this under his tongue to help dilate the coronary arteries along with the other blood vessels.
- capillary: These are not broken capillaries although everyone terms them as such, but rather permanently dilated capillaries.
- airway: Relievers Medicines based on Salbutamol that are used to treat the symptoms of an asthma attack by dilating the small airways.
- vessel: You may also be able to see tiny dilated blood vessels under the skin.
Modifying Another Word
- permanently: These are not broken capillaries although everyone terms them as such, but rather permanently dilated capillaries.
- fully: Curious, nearing the mirror, I see that my pupils are fully dilated.
- slightly: Question I was just wondering what a softened and slightly dilated cervix could mean.
- widely: Pupil sizes using a score from 1 - 8 are also assessed with 1 being pin-point and 8 being widely dilated.
- still: She, crouched beside him, eyes still dilated with the awful fear of death, looked back, breathless, trembling.
- n't: And to my horror, I was n't dilated at all!
Followed by an intransitive particle
upon: The general arguments have already been sufficiently dilated upon.
Infinitive complement
- let: Fight, Flight or Freeze Response = Concentration improves, the pupils dilate to let in more light.
- allow: Normally the blood vessels will dilate to allow the excess heat to be removed by blood flow.
Preposition: in
- excitement: Give her this cheeky little Seduction Kit and watch her pupils dilate in excitement!
- light: When direct contact occurs, the pupils constrict ( miosis ) and do not dilate in low ambient light.
- order: In hot conditions, blood vessels dilate in order that more blood heat may be lost by radiation from the skin.
Preposition: with
fear: She, crouched beside him, eyes still dilated with the awful fear of death, looked back, breathless, trembling.
Browse dictionary entries near dilate
- ‹ dilatation
- ‹ dilatant
- ‹ dilapidation
- ‹ dilapidated
- ‹ dilapidate
- ‹ dil.
- ‹ diktat
- ‹ dikes
- ‹ dike
- ‹ dik-dik
- dilation ›
- dilatometer ›
- dilator ›
- dilatory ›
- Dilaudid ›
- dildo ›
- dilemma ›
- dilettante ›
- Dili ›
- diligence ›

