dilated

adjective

di·lat·ed | \ dī-ˈlā-təd

, ˈdī-ˌlā- \

Definition of dilated

1 : marked by expansion or widening : subject to dilation Some insist that the need to learn is likely to be at the core of our dilated childhood.— Natalie Angier specifically : expanded, enlarged, or widened normally or abnormally in all dimensions dilated pupils a dilated artery/cervix Abdominal roentgenograms taken when the patient was upright showed a massively dilated stomach. — Yogesh K. Gupta

2 : expanded laterally especially : being flat and widened dilated leaves The flower corolla consists of only the upper dilated petal called the standard, or banner. — Sylvan T. Runkel and Dean M. Roose

3 : caused by dilatation (see dilatation sense 1a) dilated cardiomyopathy

Examples of dilated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Although physicians can use a test in which a puff of air is blown into your eye for screening, official diagnosis requires a dilated exam to scrutinize the optic nerve as well as other tests. — Kaitlyn Pirie, Good Housekeeping, 2 Apr. 2020 In March 2017, the coroner revealed that the singer died of natural causes and suffered a dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver. — Maria Pasquini, PEOPLE.com, 27 Dec. 2019 The child became lethargic and displayed dilated pupils after eating candy from trick-or-treating, Sgt. — Alyssa Stoney, azcentral, 5 Nov. 2019 Their baby’s kidneys were more dilated than usual and underdeveloped, a relatively common condition. — Colleen Cronin, PEOPLE.com, 5 Aug. 2019 According to the doctors, the baby’s kidneys were more dilated than usual, and also underdeveloped, a relatively common condition, affecting up to 30 percent of unborn babies. — Maria Pasquini, PEOPLE.com, 20 July 2019 And there was the option of lasering away dilated blood vessels. — Alice Gregory, Allure, 28 Apr. 2019 Others couldn’t speak or had abnormally dilated pupils caused by pressure in the brain. — Thomas M. Burton, WSJ, 26 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dilated.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.