Dilate

Pronunciation

• IPA: /daɪˈleɪt/
• Rhymes: -eɪt

Origin

From Middle French dilater, from Latin dīlātō ("I spread out"), from di-, variant of dis- + latus ("wide").

Full definition of dilate

Verb

1. (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.
2. (intransitive) To become wider or larger; to expand.
• AddisonHis heart dilates and glories in his strength.
3. (ambitransitive) To speak largely and copiously; to dwell in narration; to enlarge; with "on" or "upon".
• ShakespeareDo me the favour to dilate at full
  What hath befallen of them and thee till now.
• CrabbeBut still on their ancient joys dilate.

Derived terms

• dilatability
• dilatable
• dilation
• dilative

Anagrams

• detail, tailed