expand

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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

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.

   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.

   • John Milton (1608-1674)

     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  to  x⁴ + 4x³ + 6x² + 4x + 1.

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

   Many materials expand when heated.

   This compact umbrella expands to cover a large table.

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

   He's so pedantic, he expands on everything!

   • 1899, Stephen Crane, chapter 1, 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 […].”

9. (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, opentrekken
• Finnish: laajentaa (fi), levittää (to spread)
• French: agrandir (fr)
• German: expandieren (de)

• Korean: 펴다 (pyeoda), 피다 (pida)
• Norwegian: utvide, ekspandere
• Romanian: mări (ro), expanda, crește (ro)
• Russian: растягивать (ru) (rastyagivat´), расширять (ru) (rashiryat´)
• Spanish: ampliar (es)
• Swedish: utbreda (sv), utveckla (sv), öppna (sv)

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

• Bulgarian: разширявам (bg) (razširjavam)
• Dutch: uitbreiden (nl), vergroten (nl), vermeerderen (nl)
• Korean: 펴다 (pyeoda), 피다 (pida)

• Norwegian: utvide, ekspandere
• Romanian: mări (ro)
• Russian: увеличивать в объёме, в размерах (uvilichivat' v obiome, v razmerh)
• Swedish: expandera (sv), vidga (sv), utvidga (sv)

(transitive) to express at length or in detail

• Bulgarian: излагам подробно (izlagam podrobno)
• Dutch: elaboreren, uitwerken
• Korean: 펴다 (pyeoda)
• Norwegian: utdype, greie ut (om)

• Russian: излагать дело в подробностях (izlagat' delo v podrobnostyah), раскрывать суть дела (raskryvat' sut' dela)
• Swedish: utveckla (sv)

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

• Bulgarian: развивам (bg) (razvivam)
• Dutch: uitwerken, ontbinden in factoren, factoriseren
• Finnish: sieventää
• Hebrew: פיתח (pitéakh)

• Norwegian: faktorisere (no)
• Romanian: factoriza (ro)
• Russian: раскрывать скобки (raskryvat' skobki)
• Swedish: faktorisera (sv)

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

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

• Maori: tautorotoro
• Norwegian: vokse (no), bli større
• Romanian: crește (ro)
• Russian: растягиваться (ru) (rastyagivatsa), расширяться (ru) (rashiryatsa)
• Swedish: utbreda (sv) sig, utbredas (sv), utveckla (sv) sig, utvecklas (sv), växa (sv), öppna (sv) sig, öppnas (sv)

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

• Dutch: uitdijen (nl), zich uitbreiden, toenemen (nl)
• Finnish: laajentaa (fi)
• Korean: 펴이다 (pyeoida), 피다 (pida)

• Norwegian: vokse (no), ekspandere
• Russian: увеличиваться в объёме, в размерах (uvilichivatsa v obiome, v razmerh)
• Swedish: expanderas (sv), vidgas (sv), utvidgas (sv)

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

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

• Norwegian: utdype
• Swedish: utveckla (sv) sig

(intransitive) to feel generous or optimistic

• Russian: раскрываться (ru) (raskryvatsa), делаться откровеннее (delatsa otkrovenee), становиться общительнее (stanovitsa obshitelnee)

(intransitive) algebra: to rewrite as an equivalent sum of terms

• Dutch: uitbonden worden
• Finnish: laventaa

• Norwegian: faktorisere (no)
• Swedish: faktoriseras (sv)

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 Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked

• French: élaborer, (s')éteindre