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Expand

/ɪkˈspænd/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive) To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open..

Definitions by Sense

  1. (transitive) To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open.
  2. (transitive) To increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something).
  3. (transitive) To express (something) at length and/or in detail.
  4. (transitive, algebra) To rewrite (an expression) as a longer, yet equivalent, sum of terms.
  5. (intransitive, algebra, of an expression) To become, by rewriting, a longer, yet equivalent, sum of terms.
  6. (transitive, arithmetic) To multiply both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same (non-zero) number (which yields a fraction of equal value).
  7. (intransitive) To change or grow from smaller to larger in form, number, or size.
  8. (intransitive) To increase in extent, number, volume or scope.

Example Sentences

You can expand this compact umbrella to cover a large table.
A flower expands its leaves.
Then with expanded wings he steers his flight.
This has evidently been encouraging, for the current winter timetable - not even with the benefit of summer holiday traffic - shows that the two trains each way have been expanded to four.
When an ultrasonic beam is fired at the microcannons, the emulsion evaporates, expanding rapidly into gas. This creates enough force to push the nanobullets out at velocities reaching several metres per second.
Use the binomial theorem to expand #123;(x#43;1)#125;⁴.
The expression #123;(x#43;1)#125;⁴ expands to x⁴#43;4x³#43;6x²#43;4x#43;1.
Expanding 4#47;7 by 3 gives 12#47;21.

Synonyms for expand

Antonyms for expand

Related Words

Word Forms

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does expand mean?

Expand means (transitive) To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open..

What is a synonym for expand?

Common synonyms include open out, spread, spread out, unfold.

What is the opposite of expand?

Possible antonyms include contract, limit, factor, collapse.

How do you use expand in a sentence?

You can expand this compact umbrella to cover a large table.

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.