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dilate (v.)
late 14c., dilaten, "describe at length, speak at length," from Old French dilater and directly from Late Latin dilatare "make wider, enlarge," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + lātus "broad, wide, widespread, extended" (see latitude). Meaning "expand, distend, spread out, enlarge in all directions" (transitive) is from early 15c.; intransitive sense of "spread out, expand, distend" also is from early 15c. A doublet of delay. Related: Dilated; dilating.

updated on October 13, 2021
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Definitions of dilate from WordNet
Dictionary entries near dilate
diktat
dilapidate
dilapidated
dilapidation
dilatation
dilate
dilated
dilation
dilatory
dildo
dilemma