dilate

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /daɪˈleɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #47683

Meanings

1

verb
become wider

The optician dilated my pupils.
2

verb
To enlarge; to make bigger.

The eye doctor put drops in my eye to dilate the pupil so he could see the nerve better.
3

verb
To become wider or larger; to expand.

His heart dilates and glories in his strength.
4

verb
To speak largely and copiously; to dwell in narration; to enlarge; with "on" or "upon".

Do me the favour to dilate at full / What hath befallen of them and thee till now.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · become wider distend

Word family

Derived forms bronchodilatedilatabilitydilatabledilatancydilatativedilatinglydilationdilativedilatometerdilatometrydilatonnondilating

Related forms dilute

Etymology

First attested in 1399, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English dilaten (“to delay, tarry”), borrowed from Latin dīlātus, perfect passive participle of Latin dīfferō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)). If so, Doublet of defer and differ; see also infer, relate and refer, collate and confer, delate and defer, as well as prefer and prelate among others. Alternatively, from Latin dīlātō, see Etymology 1.

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# dilate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /daɪˈleɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 47683

## Meanings
1. become wider
2. To enlarge; to make bigger.
3. To become wider or larger; to expand.
4. To speak largely and copiously; to dwell in narration; to enlarge; with "on" or "upon".

## Examples
- The optician dilated my pupils.
- The eye doctor put drops in my eye to dilate the pupil so he could see the nerve better.
- His heart dilates and glories in his strength.
- Do me the favour to dilate at full / What hath befallen of them and thee till now.

## Synonyms
- distend

## Derived Forms
- bronchodilate
- dilatability
- dilatable
- dilatancy
- dilatative
- dilatingly
- dilation
- dilative
- dilatometer
- dilatometry
- dilaton
- nondilating

## Related Forms
- dilute

## Etymology
First attested in 1399, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English dilaten (“to delay, tarry”), borrowed from Latin dīlātus, perfect passive participle of Latin dīfferō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)). If so, Doublet of defer and differ; see also infer, relate and refer, collate and confer, delate and defer, as well as prefer and prelate among others. Alternatively, from Latin dīlātō, see Etymology 1.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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