expand

English

Etymology

Recorded in Middle English since 1422 (as expanden, expaunden), from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandere present active infinitive of expandō (“to spread out”), itself from ex- (“out, outwards”) + pandō (“to spread”). Doublet of spawn.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ænd
• IPA^(key): /ɛkˈspænd/

  • Audio (UK)

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Verb

expand (third-person singular simple present expands, present participle expanding, simple past and past participle expanded)

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

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

2. (transitive) To increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something).

   A flower expands its leaves.

   • 1667, John Milton, “Book 1”, in Paradise Lost. A Poem Written in Ten Books, London: Printed [by Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […] [a]nd by Robert Boulter […] [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], OCLC 228722708; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: The Text Exactly Reproduced from the First Edition of 1667: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, OCLC 230729554:

     Then with expanded wings he steers his flight.

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.

   Use the binomial theorem to expand ${(x+1)}^{4}$.

5. (intransitive, algebra, of an expression) To become, by rewriting, a longer, yet equivalent sum of terms.

   The expression ${(x+1)}^{4}$ expands to $x^{4}+4x^{3}+6x^{2}+4x+1$.

6. (transitive, arithmetic) To multiply both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same natural number yielding a fraction of equal value
7. (intransitive) To change from a smaller form/size to a larger one.

   Many materials expand when heated.

   This compact umbrella expands to cover a large table.

8. (intransitive) To increase in extent, number, volume or scope.
9. (intransitive) To speak or write at length or in detail.

   He expanded on his plans for the business.

   • 1899, Stephen Crane, chapter 1, in Twelve O'Clock:

     There was some laughter, and Roddle was left free to expand his ideas on the periodic visits of cowboys to the town. “Mason Rickets, he had ten big punkins a-sittin' in front of his store, an' them fellers from the Upside-down-F ranch shot 'em up […] ”

10. (intransitive) To feel generous or optimistic.

Synonyms

• (to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one): open out, spread, spread out, unfold
• (to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of): enlarge
• (to express at length or in detail): elaborate (on), expand on

Antonyms

• (to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one): contract
• (to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of): contract
• (algebra: to rewrite as an equivalent sum of terms): factor

Derived terms

• expandable
• expander

Related terms

• expanse
• expansible
• expansile
• expansive
• expansion
• expansionism

Translations

(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one

• Bulgarian: разширявам се (razširjavam se)
• Dutch: vergroten (nl), uitbreiden (nl), openzetten (nl), opentrekken (nl)
• Finnish: laajentaa (fi), (to spread) levittää (fi)
• French: agrandir (fr)
• German: expandieren (de), vergrößern (de)
• Korean: 펴다 (ko) (pyeoda), 피다 (ko) (pida)
• Japanese: 拡大する (ja) (kakudai suru)
• Latin: expandō
• Maori: tīwhaki, tīwhera, whakamakoha, whakaroha

• Norwegian: utvide, ekspandere
• Romanian: mări (ro), expanda, crește (ro)
• Russian: растя́гивать (ru) impf (rastjágivatʹ), расширя́ть (ru) impf (rasširjátʹ)
• Spanish: ampliar (es)
• Swedish: utbreda (sv), utveckla (sv), öppna (sv)
• Tagalog: palakihin
• Thai: ขยาย (th) (kàyǎai)
• Ukrainian: розтяга́ти (roztjaháty), розши́рювати (rozšýrjuvaty), збі́льшувати (zbílʹšuvaty)

(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of

• Bulgarian: разширявам (bg) (razširjavam)
• Danish: ekspandere (da)
• Dutch: uitbreiden (nl), vergroten (nl), vermeerderen (nl)
• German: vergrößern (de)
• Japanese: 拡大する (ja) (kakudai suru)
• Korean: 펴다 (ko) (pyeoda), 피다 (ko) (pida)
• Lü: ᦶᦖᧈᦦᦱᧂᧉ (ṁae¹k̇waang²)
• Maori: whakaroha (refers to extent)

• Norwegian: utvide, ekspandere
• Romanian: mări (ro)
• Russian: увели́чивать (ru) impf (uvelíčivatʹ)
• Swedish: expandera (sv), vidga (sv), utvidga (sv)
• Tagalog: palakihin
• Ukrainian: збі́льшувати (zbílʹšuvaty)

(transitive) to express at length or in detail

• Bulgarian: излагам подробно (izlagam podrobno)
• Dutch: elaboreren, uitwerken (nl)
• Japanese: 拡大する (ja) (kakudai suru), 展開する (ja) (tenkai suru), 敷衍する (ja) (fuen suru)
• Korean: 펴다 (ko) (pyeoda)
• Norwegian: utdype, greie ut (om)

• Russian: излага́ть де́ло в подро́бностях impf (izlagátʹ délo v podróbnostjax), раскрыва́ть суть де́ла impf (raskryvátʹ sutʹ déla)
• Swedish: utveckla (sv)
• Tagalog: palawakin

(transitive, algebra) to rewrite as an equivalent sum of terms

• Bulgarian: ^{(please verify)} развивам (bg) (razvivam)
• Dutch: ^{(please verify)} uitwerken (nl), ^{(please verify)} ontbinden in factoren, ^{(please verify)} factoriseren
• Finnish: kertoa auki (fi)
• Hebrew: ^{(please verify)} פיתח‎ (pitéakh)
• Maori: ^{(please verify)} whakawhānui

• Norwegian: ^{(please verify)} faktorisere (no)
• Romanian: ^{(please verify)} factoriza (ro)
• Russian: ^{(please verify)} раскрыва́ть ско́бки impf (raskryvátʹ skóbki)
• Swedish: ^{(please verify)} faktorisera (sv)
• Ukrainian: ^{(please verify)} розкрива́ти дужки́ (rozkryváty dužký)

(intransitive, algebra) to become an equivalent sum of terms

(transitive, arithmetic) to multiply the numerator and denominator of a fraction by the same number

• Finnish: laventaa (fi)

(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one

• Bulgarian: увеличавам се (uveličavam se)
• Dutch: uitdijen (nl), uitzetten (nl), uitplooien
• Finnish: laajentua (fi), laajeta (fi)
• Korean: 펴이다 (pyeoida), 피다 (ko) (pida)
• Maori: tautorotoro, whakaroha

• Norwegian: vokse (no), bli større
• Romanian: crește (ro)
• Russian: растя́гиваться (ru) impf (rastjágivatʹsja), расширя́ться (ru) impf (rasširjátʹsja)
• Swedish: utbreda sig (sv), utbredas (sv), utveckla sig (sv), utvecklas (sv), växa (sv), öppna sig (sv), öppnas (sv)
• Tagalog: lumaki
• Ukrainian: розтяга́тися (roztjahátysja), розши́рюватися (rozšýrjuvatysja), збі́льшуватися (zbílʹšuvatysja)

(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope

• Dutch: uitdijen (nl), zich uitbreiden, toenemen (nl)
• Finnish: laajentaa (fi)
• Korean: 펴이다 (pyeoida), 피다 (ko) (pida)
• Norwegian: vokse (no), ekspandere

• Russian: увели́чиваться (ru) impf (uvelíčivatʹsja)
• Swedish: expanderas (sv), vidgas (sv), utvidgas (sv)
• Tagalog: lumaki
• Ukrainian: збі́льшуватися (zbílʹšuvatysja)

(intransitive) to speak or write at length or in detail

• Dutch: (over) uitweiden (nl)
• Finnish: tarkentaa (fi), täsmentää (fi)
• French: élaborer (fr)

• Norwegian: utdype
• Swedish: utveckla sig (sv)
• Tagalog: lumawak
• Ukrainian: розповіда́ти в дета́лях (rozpovidáty v detáljax)

(intransitive) to feel generous or optimistic

• Russian: раскрыва́ться (ru) impf (raskryvátʹsja), де́латься открове́ннее impf (délatʹsja otkrovénneje), станови́ться общи́тельнее impf (stanovítʹsja obščítelʹneje)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• French: ^{(please verify)} élaborer (fr), (s')éteindre