expand

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb extend in one or more directions
  2. verb become larger in size or volume or quantity
  3. verb make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity

Etymology

Recorded in Middle English since 1422 (as expanden, expaunden), from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandere (“to spread out”), itself from ex- (“out, outwards”) + pandō (“to spread”). Doublet of spawn.

In classic literature

Synonyms

spread out

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