dilate
To enlarge; to make biggerTo enlarge; to make bigger.
Meaning
6 senses(transitive)To enlarge; to make bigger.
The eye doctor put drops in my eye to dilate the pupil so he could see the nerve better.
dilatieren, weiten, vergrößern
расширя́тьrasširjátʹ, расши́ритьrasšíritʹ, увели́чиватьuvelíčivatʹ
(intransitive)To become wider or larger; to expand.
His heart dilates and glories in his strength.
sich weiten, ausdehnen, weiten
расширя́тьсяrasširjátʹsja, расши́ритьсяrasšíritʹsja, увели́чиватьсяuvelíčivatʹsja
become wider
(ambitransitive)To speak largely and copiously; to dwell in narration; to enlarge; with "on" or "upon".
(ambitransitive)To use a dilator to widen (something, such as a vagina).
(obsolete, transitive)To delay, defer.
(obsolete, transitive)To prolong, lengthen.
Examples
10 sentencesTranslations
8 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 2
Origin
First attested in 1393, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English dilaten, from OldFirst attested in 1393, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English dilaten, from Old French dilater, from Latin dīlātō (“to spread out”), from dī- + lātus (“wide”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of dilatate.
First attested in 1399, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English dilaten (“to delay, tarry”), borrowed from Latin dīlātus, perfect passive participle of Latin dīfferō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)). If so, Doublet of defer and differ; see also infer, relate and refer, collate and confer, delate and defer, as well as prefer and prelate among others. Alternatively, from Latin dīlātō, see Etymology 1.
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Forms
dilates, dilating, dilated, dilatedSynonyms
9 synonymsAntonyms
1 antonymsWord family
20 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle