expand

Expand is defined as to increase in size, unfold or spread out.

(verb)

See expand in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to spread out; open out; stretch out; unfold: the eagle expanded its wings
to make greater in size, bulk, scope, etc.; enlarge; dilate; extend
to enlarge upon (a topic, idea, etc.); develop in detail
to work out or show the full form of (a contraction, mathematical equation, etc.)

Origin: ME expanden < L expandere < ex-, out + pandere, to spread, extend; akin to patere: see fathom

intransitive verb

Related Forms:

See expand in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb ex·pand·ed, ex·pand·ing, ex·pands

verb, transitive

To increase the size, volume, quantity, or scope of; enlarge: expanded her store by adding a second room. See Synonyms at increase.
To express at length or in detail; enlarge on: expanded his remarks afterward.
To open (something) up or out; spread out: The bird expanded its wings and flew off.
Mathematics To write (a quantity) as a sum of terms in an extended form.

verb, intransitive

To become greater in size, volume, quantity, or scope: Air expands when heated. This critic's influence is expanding.
To speak or write at length or in detail: expand on a favorite topic.
To open up or out; unfold: The chair expands to form a day bed.
To feel expansive.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English expanden, to spread out

Origin: , from Latin expandere

Origin: : ex-, ex-

Origin: + pandere, to spread; see petə- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: