dilate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb become wider
    distend.
    • His pupils were dilated
  2. verb add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing
    expound; lucubrate; expatiate; elaborate; enlarge; exposit; flesh out; expand.
    • She elaborated on the main ideas in her dissertation

WordNet

Di*late" transitive verb
Etymology
L. dilatare; either fr. di- = dis- + latus wide, not the same word as latus, used as p. p. of ferre to bear (see Latitude); or fr. dilatus, used as p. p. of differre to separate (see Delay, Tolerate, Differ, and cf. Dilatory): cf. F. dilater.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Dilated ; present participle & verbal noun Dilating
Definitions
  1. To expand; to distend; to enlarge or extend in all directions; to swell; -- opposed to contract; as, the air dilates the lungs; air is dilated by increase of heat.
  2. To enlarge upon; to relate at large; to tell copiously or diffusely. R.
    Do me the favor to dilate at full What hath befallen of them and thee till now. Shak.
    Syn. -- To expand; swell; distend; enlarge; spread out; amplify; expatiate.
Di*late" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To grow wide; to expand; to swell or extend in all directions.
    His heart dilates and glories in his strength. Addison.
  2. To speak largely and copiously; to dwell in narration; to enlarge; -- with on or upon.
    But still on their ancient joys dilate. Crabbe.
Di*late" adjective
Definitions
  1. Extensive; expanded. Obs. B. Jonson.

Webster 1913