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verb British English pronunciation: expand /ɪkˈspænd/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theyexpand
he/she/itexpands
present participleexpanding
past tenseexpanded
past participleexpanded
 
  1. 1
    [intransitive] to become larger in size and fill more space

    The water froze inside the pipe, causing it to expand and burst.

    We live in an expanding universe.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  expandThesaurus entry for this meaning of expand
    1. a.
      [transitive] to make something become larger in size and fill more space

      We plan to expand the pub by adding a family room.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  expandThesaurus entry for this meaning of expand
  2. 2
    [intransitive] if a business, organization, or activity expands, it grows by including more people, moving into new areas, selling more products etc

    Britain’s universities expanded at an unprecedented rate at the end of the 20th century.

    the rapidly expanding IT sector

    expand into:

    The group has expanded into Germany.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  expandThesaurus entry for this meaning of expand
    1. a.
      [transitive] to make a business, organization, or activity do this

      The EU could be expanded to include former communist countries.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  expandThesaurus entry for this meaning of expand
  3. 3
    [intransitive] to talk or write more about something, adding more details or information
    expand on/upon:

    I refuse to expand any further on my earlier statement.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  expandThesaurus entry for this meaning of expand
  4. 4
    [intransitive/transitive] formal to open something that is folded

    The hawk expanded its wings and soared into the sky.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  expandThesaurus entry for this meaning of expand

This is the British English definition of expand. View American English definition of expand.

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