Meaning of dilate in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /daɪˈleɪt/

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  1. Verb

    dilate

    Etymology

    late Middle English: from Old French dilater, from Latin dilatare‘spread out’, from di-‘apart’ + latus‘wide’

    Definitions

    1. become wider

    Examples

    • « His pupils were dilated »

    Derived terms

  2. 2. add details, as to an account or idea

    Examples

    • « clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing »
    • « She elaborated on the main ideas in her dissertation »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

Famous quotes

  • « The time at our disposal each day is elastic the passions we feel dilate it, those that inspire us shrink it, and habit fills it. »
    Marcel Proust

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