Main Entry: di·late

Pronunciation: \ˈdī-ˌlāt, dī-ˈ\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): di·lat·ed; di·lat·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French dilater, from Latin dilatare, literally, to spread wide, from dis- + latus wide — more at latitude

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 archaic : to describe or set forth at length or in detail
2 : to enlarge or expand in bulk or extent : distend, widenintransitive verb 1 : to comment at length : discourse —usually used with on or upon
2 : to become wide : swell <the pupil of the eye dilates and contracts>

synonyms see expand

— di·lat·abil·i·ty \(ˌ)dī-ˌlā-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— di·lat·able \dī-ˈlā-tə-bəl, ˈdī-ˌ\ adjective

— di·la·tor \dī-ˈlā-tər, ˈdī-ˌ\ noun