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Webster 1913 Edition

Expand

Ex-pand′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Expanded
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Expanding
.]
[L.
expandere
,
expansum
;
ex
out +
pandere
to spread out, to throw open; perh. akin to E.
patent
. Cf.
Spawn
.]
1.
To lay open by extending; to open wide; to spread out; to diffuse;
as, a flower
expands
its leaves
.
Then with
expanded
wings he steers his flight.
Milton.
2.
To cause the particles or parts of to spread themselves or stand apart, thus increasing bulk without addition of substance; to make to occupy more space; to dilate; to distend; to extend every way; to enlarge; – opposed to
contract
;
as, to
expand
the chest; heat
expands
all bodies; to
expand
the sphere of benevolence.
3.
(Math.)
To state in enlarged form; to develop;
as, to
expand
an equation
. See
Expansion
, 5.

Ex-pand′

,
Verb.
I.
To become widely opened, spread apart, dilated, distended, or enlarged;
as, flowers
expand
in the spring; metals
expand
by heat; the heart
expands
with joy.
Dryden.

Webster 1828 Edition

Expand

EXPAND'

,
Verb.
T.
[L. expando; es and pando, to open or spread; Eng. span. The primary sense is to strain or stretch, and this seems to be the sense of bend, L. pandus.]
1.
To open; to spread; as, a flower expands its leaves.
2.
To spread; to enlarge a surface; to diffuse; as, a stream expands its waters over a plain.
3.
To dilate; to enlarge in bulk; to distend; as, to expand the chest by inspiration; heat expands all bodies; air is expanded by rarefaction.
4.
To enlarge; to extend; as, to expand the sphere of benevolence; to expand the heart or affections.

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