dilatation

American  

[dil-uh-tey-shuhn, dahy-luh-] / ˌdɪl əˈteɪ ʃən, ˌdaɪ lə- /

noun

1. a dilated formation or part.

2. Pathology. an abnormal enlargement of an aperture or a canal of the body.

3. Surgery.

   1. an enlargement made in a body aperture or canal for surgical or medical treatment.

   2. a restoration to normal patency of an abnormally small body opening or passageway, as of the anus or esophagus.

4. Mechanics. the increase in volume per unit volume of a homogeneous substance.

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Other Word Forms

• dilatational adjective

Etymology

Origin of dilatation

1350–1400; Middle English (< Old French ) < Latin dīlātātiōn- (stem of dīlātātiō ), equivalent to dīlātāt ( us ) spread out (past participle of dīlātāre to dilate ) + iōn- -ion

Related Words

• delay
• development
• expansion
• increase
• postponement