Meaning of dilate in English

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 »
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

   • abridge
   • foreshorten
   • abbreviate
   • shorten
   • cut
   • contract
   • reduce