| v. t. | 1. | To lay open by extending; to open wide; to spread out; to diffuse; |
| 2. | To cause the particles or parts of to spread themselves or stand apart, thus increasing bulk without addition of substance; to make to occupy more space; to dilate; to distend; to extend every way; to enlarge; - opposed to | |
| 3. | (Math.) To state in enlarged form; to develop; | |
| v. i. | 1. | To become widely opened, spread apart, dilated, distended, or enlarged; |
| Verb | 1. | expand - extend in one or more directions; "The dough expands" Synonyms: spread out |
| 2. | expand - become larger in size or volume or quantity; "his business expanded rapidly" | |
| 3. | expand - make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity; "expand the house by adding another wing" | |
| 4. | expand - grow stronger; "The economy was booming" | |
| 5. | expand - exaggerate or make bigger; "The charges were inflated" | |
| 6. | expand - add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing; "She elaborated on the main ideas in her dissertation" Antonyms: abridge, foreshorten, abbreviate, shorten, contract, reduce, cut - reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The manuscript must be shortened" | |
| 7. | expand - expand the influence of; "The King extended his rule to the Eastern part of the continent" Synonyms: extend |