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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Dilate

Dī-lāte', v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. DILATED; p. pr. & vb. n. DILATING.] [Lat. dilatare, from di, for dis, and latus, wide; It. dilatare, Pr., Sp., & Pg. dilatar, Fr. dilater.]

  1. To expand; to distend; to enlarge or extend in all directions; to swell;—opposed to contract; as, the air dilates the lungs; air is dilated by increase of heat.
  2. To enlarge upon; to relate at large; to tell copiously or diffusely. [Very rare.]

Do me the favor to dilate at full What hath befallen of them and thee till now. Shak. Syn.—To expand; swell; distend; enlarge; spread out; amplify: expatiate.

Dĭ-lāte’ or Dī-lāte’, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. 1. To grow wide; to expand; to swell or extend in all directions. His heart dilates and glories in his strength. Addison. 2. To speak largely and copiously; to dwell in narration; to expatiate; to descant;— with on or upon.

Dĭ-lāte’ or Dī-lāte’, a.

adjective

a. Expanded; extensive. [Obs.] B. Jonson.