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—expandable, expandible, adj. —expandability, expandibility, n./ik spand"/, v.t.1. to increase in extent, size, volume, scope, etc.: Heat expands most metals. He hopes to expand his company.2. to spread or stretch out; unfold: A bird expands its wings.3. to express in fuller form or greater detail; develop: to expand a short story into a novel.4. Math.a. to write (a mathematical expression) so as to show the products of its factors. Cf. factor (def. 10).b. to rewrite (a mathematical expression) as a sum, product, etc., of terms of a particular kind: to expand a function in a power series.v.i.5. to increase or grow in extent, bulk, scope, etc.: Most metals expand with heat. The mind expands with experience.6. to spread out; unfold; develop: The buds had not yet expanded.7. to express something more fully or in greater detail (usually fol. by on or upon): to expand on a statement.[1400-50; late ME expanden < L expandere to spread out, equiv. to ex- EX-1 + pandere to extend, stretch]Syn. 1. extend, swell, enlarge. See increase. EXPAND, DILATE, DISTEND, INFLATE imply becoming larger and filling more space. TO EXPAND is to spread out, usually in every direction: to expand one's chest. TO DILATE is esp. to increase the width or circumference, and applies to space enclosed within confines or to hollow bodies: to dilate the pupils of the eyes. TO DISTEND is to stretch, often beyond the point of natural expansion: to distend an artery. TO INFLATE is to blow out or swell a hollow body with air or gas: to inflate a balloon.
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Universalium. 2010.
