# extend

Pronunciation: US say "ek-STEND" /ɛkˈstɛnd/; UK

## Verb

1. To cause something to increase in size, range, or scope.
   - Simple: To make something bigger, longer, or able to reach farther.
   - _The council voted to extend the boundary of the protected zone._
   - _The architect extended the gallery to make room for new exhibits._
2. To cause something to continue for a longer period of time.
   - Simple: To make something last for more time.
   - _The committee voted to extend the contract for another year._
   - _Heavy snow extended the trip by several hours._
3. To offer or bestow something, such as kindness, an invitation, or a service, upon someone.
   - Simple: To give or offer something, such as help or a welcome, to someone.
   - _The mayor extended an invitation to the visiting delegation._
   - _Banks extend credit to customers they trust._
4. To grow larger in size, range, or reach.
   - Simple: To grow bigger or reach farther than before.
   - _The flooding extended well beyond the riverbanks._
   - _Glaciers extend downhill as more snow accumulates above them._
5. To possess a certain extent; to cover or reach over a particular area or distance.
   - Simple: To cover or reach over a certain area or distance.
   - _The desert extends across several national borders._
   - _These caves extend deep beneath the surrounding hills._
6. To straighten a limb or joint, moving it out of a bent position.
   - Simple: To straighten an arm, leg, or other body part.
   - _The therapist asked him to extend his arm fully._
   - _He extended his fingers and then made a fist._
7. Of a class, to be a subtype of or based on a more general class, inheriting its properties and behavior.
   - Simple: In computer programming, to build a new class based on another, keeping its features.
   - _A subclass that extends the base type inherits all of its public methods._
   - _You can extend an abstract class to provide concrete implementations._
8. To increase the quantity of something by mixing in weaker or cheaper additions that dilute it.
   - Simple: To make something go further by adding cheaper or weaker things to it.
   - _Unscrupulous traders extend olive oil with cheaper seed oils._
   - _The merchant extended the flour with chalk to boost his profits._
9. In the military, to reenlist in order to serve for an additional period. *(US)*
   - Simple: In the military, to sign up to stay in service for more time.
   - _She chose to extend rather than leave the service._
   - _Several Marines extended after their unit was deployed overseas._
10. In law, to seize and value land under a writ of extent so that its worth can satisfy a debt owed. *(UK)*
   - Simple: In old law, to take and value someone's land to pay off a debt they owe.
   - _The bailiff moved to extend the manor in settlement of the Crown's claim._
   - _The officers extended the freehold to recover the outstanding debt._

## Origin

From Middle English extenden, borrowed via Anglo-Norman extendre (also estendre), from Latin extendō meaning "I stretch out."

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