dilate Hear it!

dilate definition

di·late (dī′lāt′; dī lāt′, də-)

transitive verb dilated -·lat′ed, dilating -·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

  1. to become wider or larger; swell
  2. to speak or write in detail (on or upon a subject)

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.