Dilation: meaning, definitions and examples
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dilation
[daɪˈleɪʃən ]
Definitions
medical
The action or condition of becoming or being made wider, larger, or more open.
Synonyms
enlargement, expansion, stretching.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| dilation |
Medical or scientific scenarios, often referring to the widening or opening of an organ, blood vessel, or pupil.
|
Examples of usage
- The dilation of the pupil in response to darkness.
- Dilation of the cervix during childbirth is a natural process.
- The doctor prescribed eye drops to help with pupil dilation.
- The dilation of blood vessels can lead to increased blood flow.
- Muscle dilation is a common response to exercise.
mathematics
A transformation that changes the size of a figure, but not its shape.
Synonyms
proportional change, resizing, scaling.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| dilation |
Used mostly in medical or physiological contexts, often referring to the expansion or widening of body parts.
|
Examples of usage
- The dilation of a square by a scale factor of 2 results in a larger square.
- In geometry, dilations are used to create similar figures.
- The concept of dilation is important in studying transformations.
- A dilation can either enlarge or reduce the size of a shape.
- The coordinates of a figure are changed during a dilation.
Interesting Facts
Etymology
- Derived from the Latin word 'dilatatio,' meaning 'to spread out' or 'to enlarge.'
- The term has been used scientifically since the early 19th century to describe changes in size.
Science
- In medicine, dilation refers to the process where blood vessels widen, increasing blood flow.
- Pupillary dilation occurs in low light to let more light into the eye, allowing better vision.
- Temperature can cause dilation in materials; for example, when metals heat up, they expand.
Mathematics
- In geometry, dilation refers to a transformation that creates a scaled version of a shape, enlarging or reducing it.
- The concept of dilation can be illustrated through similar triangles, which maintain proportion while changing size.
Cultural References
- In film and literature, dilation can symbolize emotional growth or change as characters experience new perspectives.
- The idea of 'time dilation' is popular in science fiction, where time can appear to slow down or speed up under certain conditions.
Psychology
- Dilation is sometimes linked to emotional responses; for instance, pupils dilate when a person is excited or attracted to someone.
- In therapeutic settings, practitioners often discuss mental dilation as broadening one's mindset to embrace new ideas or challenges.
Translations
Translations of the word "dilation" in other languages:
🇵🇹 dilatação
🇮🇳 विस्तार
🇩🇪 Erweiterung
🇮🇩 dilatasi
🇺🇦 розширення
🇵🇱 rozszerzenie
🇯🇵 拡張 (かくちょう)
🇫🇷 dilatation
🇪🇸 dilatación
🇹🇷 genişleme
🇰🇷 확장
🇸🇦 تمدد
🇨🇿 rozšíření
🇸🇰 dilatácia
🇨🇳 扩张 (kuòzhāng)
🇸🇮 dilatacija
🇮🇸 útþensla
🇰🇿 кеңейту
🇬🇪 გაფართოება
🇦🇿 genişlənmə
🇲🇽 dilatación