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1. Extend in one or more directions
   "The dough expands";
   - spread out
    
2. Become larger in size, volume or quantity
   "his business expanded rapidly"
    
3. Make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity
   "expand the house by adding another wing"
    
4. Grow vigorously
   "business is expanding";
   - boom, thrive, flourish
    
5. Exaggerate or make bigger
   "The charges were expanded";
   - inflate, blow up, amplify
    
6. Describe and explain in detail
   "She expanded on the main ideas in her dissertation";
   - elaborate, lucubrate [archaic], expatiate, exposit, enlarge, flesh out, expound, dilate
    
7. Extend the influence of
   "The King expanded his rule to the Eastern part of the continent";
   - extend
    
8. (algebra) rewrite as an equivalent longer sum of terms

Derived forms: expanded, expanding, expands

See also: distribute

Type of: alter, change, clarify, clear up, elucidate, enlarge, grow, increase, modify

Encyclopedia: Expand