# expand

Pronunciation: US say "ik-SPAND" /ɪkˈspænd/; UK

## Verb

1. To make something larger or wider in scope, or to add to its number, extent, or volume.
   - Simple: To make something bigger or make it include more.
   - _The company hopes to expand its operations into new overseas markets._
   - _The university expanded its scholarship offerings last fall._
2. To become greater in extent, volume, or scope, or larger in number.
   - Simple: To grow bigger or come to include more things.
   - _Membership in the club expanded rapidly after the open house._
   - _The investigation may expand to include other city departments._
3. To enlarge something or arrange it so that it is open or spread out.
   - Simple: To make something larger, or to spread it out or open it up.
   - _Heat the ring gently to expand it before sliding it onto the shaft._
   - _He expanded the map across the table so everyone could see the route._
4. To grow in size or change into a larger form, or to increase in number.
   - Simple: To grow bigger or take up more space.
   - _Water expands as it freezes, which is why pipes sometimes burst._
   - _Most metals expand when heated and shrink when they cool._
5. To present an account, idea, or other material at greater length or in greater detail.
   - Simple: To explain something more fully, with extra details.
   - _The witness was asked to expand her account of that evening._
   - _The author expanded a brief sketch into a detailed opening chapter._
6. To say or write more about something, giving fuller detail or going on at greater length.
   - Simple: To talk or write more about something, giving extra details.
   - _When pressed, the minister refused to expand on the leaked memo._
   - _Later chapters expand upon the argument sketched in the introduction._
7. To open an entry in a list arranged in levels, such as a file directory or table of contents, so that the entries nested under it are shown.
   - Simple: To open an item in a list on a screen so the parts hidden inside it appear.
   - _Double-click the project name to expand it and reveal the files inside._
   - _He expanded every heading in the outline while searching for the missing section._
8. To rewrite an expression as a longer but equivalent sum of terms, for example by multiplying out a product of factors.
   - Simple: In math, to write something out as a longer sum that equals the same thing.
   - _Expand the product of the two binomials, then combine like terms._
   - _She expanded (a + b)² to get a² + 2ab + b²._
9. Of an expression, to become, when rewritten, a longer but equivalent sum of terms.
   - Simple: In math, to turn into a longer sum that equals the same thing.
   - _(x + 2)² expands to x² + 4x + 4._
   - _Products of several binomials expand into sums with many terms._
10. In arithmetic, to multiply the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same nonzero number, which gives an equivalent fraction.
   - Simple: To multiply the top and bottom of a fraction by the same number.
   - _Expand each fraction until the denominators match, then add the numerators._
   - _She expanded 2/5 by 3 to obtain 6/15._
11. To come to feel generous or optimistic; to warm and open up in mood or manner.
   - Simple: To begin to feel kind, generous, or full of hope.
   - _He expanded over dinner, refilling glasses and insisting everyone stay for dessert._
   - _Some hosts expand as the evening goes on, growing warmer with every toast._

## Origin

Recorded in Middle English from 1422, it came through Anglo-Norman espaundre from Latin expandere ("to spread out"), formed from ex- ("out, outwards") and pandō ("to spread"). It is a doublet of spawn.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/expand (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).