Dī-ăs'to-le, n.

n. [Gr. διαστολή, from διαστέλλειν; Fr. diastole. See DIASTALTIC.]

1. (Med.) A dilatation of the heart, auricles, and arteries; — opposed to systole, or contraction.
2. (Gram.) The extension of a syllable; a figure by which a syllable naturally short is made long.