Dilating

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Dilate \Di*late"\ (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Dilated}; p.
     pr. & vb. n. {Dilating}.] [L. dilatare; either fr. di- = dis-
     + latus wide, not the same word as latus, used as p. p. of
     ferre to bear (see {Latitude}); or fr. dilatus, used as p. p.
     of differre to separate (see {Delay}, {Tolerate}, {Differ},
     and cf. {Dilatory}): cf. F. dilater.]


     1. To expand; to distend; to enlarge or extend in all
        directions; to swell; -- opposed to {contract}; as, the
        air dilates the lungs; air is dilated by increase of heat.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To enlarge upon; to relate at large; to tell copiously or
        diffusely. [R.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Do me the favor to dilate at full
              What hath befallen of them and thee till now.
                                                    --Shak.
  
     Syn: To expand; swell; distend; enlarge; spread out; amplify;
          expatiate.
          [1913 Webster]