dilate

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

di·lat′·abil′·ity noun di·lat′·able adjective di·lat′·ive adjective

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.

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