expand (v.)

  1. extend in one or more directions; The dough expands

    [ Syn: spread out ]

  2. become larger in size or volume or quantity; his business expanded rapidly'

  3. make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity; expand the house by adding another wing'

  4. grow vigorously; The deer population in this town is thriving; business is booming

    [ Syn: boom , thrive , flourish ]

  5. exaggerate or make bigger; The charges were inflated

    [ Syn: inflate , blow up , amplify ]

  6. 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

    [ Syn: elaborate , lucubrate , expatiate , exposit , enlarge , flesh out , expound , dilate ]

  7. expand the influence of; The King extended his rule to the Eastern part of the continent

    [ Syn: extend ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.