Ex-pānd'1, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. EXPANDED; p. pr. & vb. n. EXPANDING.] [Lat. expandere, from ex, out of, from, and pandere, to spread out, to throw open, to open; O. Fr. espandre, N. Fr. espandre, Pr. expandre, espandre, expandir, espandir, It. espandere, spandere.]
Sense 1. To lay open; to open; to spread; to diffuse; as, a flower expands its leaves.
Then with expanded wings he steers his flight. Milton.
Sense 2. To cause the particles or parts of to spread themselves or stand apart, thus increasing bulk; to make larger; to dilate; to distend; hence, to enlarge; to extend; to open; as, to expand the chest; heat expands all bodies; to expand the sphere of benevolence.