dilate

[ dahy-leyt, dih-, dahy-leyt ]

verb (used with object)

, di·lat·ed, di·lat·ing.

1. to make wider or larger; cause to expand.
2. Archaic. to describe or develop at length.

verb (used without object)

, di·lat·ed, di·lat·ing.

1. to spread out; expand.
2. to speak or write at length; expatiate (often followed by on or upon ).

dilate

/ ˌdaɪləˈteɪʃən; ˌdɪ-; daɪˈleɪt; dɪ-; daɪˈleɪtɪv; dɪ- /

verb

1. to expand or cause to expand; make or become wider or larger

   the pupil of the eye dilates in the dark

2. intr; often foll by on or upon to speak or write at length; expand or enlarge

Derived Forms

• diˈlation, noun
• ˌdilaˈtational, adjective
• diˈlatable, adjective
• diˌlataˈbility, noun
• dilative, adjective

Other Words From

• di·lata·bili·ty noun
• di·lata·ble adjective
• nondi·lata·bili·ty noun
• nondi·lata·ble adjective
• over·di·late verb overdilated overdilating
• redi·late verb redilated redilating
• self-di·lated adjective
• subdi·lated adjective
• undi·lata·ble adjective
• undi·lated adjective
• undi·lating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dilate¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English dilaten, from Middle French dilater, “to comment at length, enlarge,” from Latin dīlātāre “to spread out, widen,” equivalent to dī- di- ² + lāt(us) “wide” + -āre infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of dilate¹

C14: from Latin dīlātāre to spread out, amplify, from dis- apart + lātus wide

Synonym Study

See expand.

Example Sentences

The fetus was on the verge of coming out, its head pressed against her dilated cervix; she was 17 weeks pregnant and a miscarriage was “in progress,” doctors noted in hospital records.

From Salon

Miss Ahmed was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy at the age of 15.

From BBC

The official cause of death was "dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure".

From BBC

Sawusch died as a result of two heart conditions, the pathologist concluded: dilated cardiomyopathy and a congenitally narrow coronary artery.

From Los Angeles Times

Six children had systolic heart failure caused by a disease called dilated cardiomyopathy, in which the heart muscle becomes enlarged and weakened and does not pump correctly.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• expound