Expand: meaning, definitions and examples
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expand
[ɪkˈspænd ]
Definition
in technology
To open up, unfold, or extend something in order to reveal more information or details.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| expand |
Commonly used in situations involving the increase in size, volume, or scope of something, such as businesses, ideas, or physical objects.
|
| unfold |
Generally used to describe the gradual or smooth revealing or development of events, stories, or objects, like a story plot or a physical item being opened.
|
| extend |
Often used when referring to lengthening time, space, or duration, such as deadlines, invitations, or physical dimensions.
|
| open up |
Typically used in more informal settings to describe the action of making something accessible or starting to allow new possibilities, often used with people becoming more communicative.
|
Examples of usage
- He clicked on the button to expand the menu and see all the options available.
- The website allows users to expand each section to read more about the topic.
- She expanded the file to access the additional content.
Interesting Facts
Etymology
- The word comes from Latin 'expandere', where 'ex-' means 'out' and 'pandere' means 'to spread'.
- Originally used in English around the 15th century, it started to gain popularity in the context of both physical size and abstract ideas.
- The term 'expand' has evolved to encompass not just physical growth but also intellectual, emotional, and social dimensions.
Science
- In physics, particularly thermodynamics, expanding gases can lead to cooling, which is known as the Joule-Thomson effect.
- The universe is expanding, a concept supported by the Big Bang theory, where galaxies move away from each other over time.
- In biology, expansion can refer to cellular processes where cells increase in size or number during growth.
Literature
- The concept of 'expansion' is often used metaphorically in literature to signify character development or plot growth.
- Authors use descriptive language to expand the reader's imagination, painting vivid scenes and broader narratives.
- Poets might 'expand' concepts by using metaphors, allowing simple ideas to grow into complex emotions and thoughts.
Business
- In the business world, companies often seek to expand their market presence, which can mean opening new locations or enhancing products.
- The term is frequently used in strategic planning to refer to the process of increasing revenue or customer base.
- Merger and acquisition strategies are also forms of expansion, allowing companies to grow rapidly and efficiently.
Psychology
- 'Cognitive expansion' refers to the process of learning where individuals grow their knowledge and perspectives.
- In therapy, expanding one’s emotional awareness can help in processing feelings and understanding oneself better.
- The 'expansion effect' in psychology suggests that when people are presented with more options, they may feel more satisfied with their choices.
Translations
Translations of the word "expand" in other languages:
🇵🇹 expandir
- ampliar
- estender
🇮🇳 विस्तार करना
- फैलाना
- बढ़ाना
🇩🇪 erweitern
- ausdehnen
- vergrößern
🇮🇩 memperluas
- mengembangkan
- memperbesar
🇺🇦 розширювати
- збільшувати
- поширювати
🇵🇱 rozszerzać
- powiększać
- rozwijać
🇯🇵 拡大する (kakudai suru)
- 広げる (hirogeru)
- 増やす (fuyasu)
🇫🇷 étendre
- agrandir
- développer
🇪🇸 expandir
- ampliar
- extender
🇹🇷 genişletmek
- büyütmek
- yaymak
🇰🇷 확장하다 (hwakjanghada)
- 넓히다 (neolpida)
- 확대하다 (hwakdae hada)
🇸🇦 توسيع
- تمديد
- زيادة
🇨🇿 rozšířit
- zvětšit
- rozvinout
🇸🇰 rozšíriť
- zväčšiť
- rozvinúť
🇨🇳 扩展 (kuòzhǎn)
- 扩大 (kuòdà)
- 增加 (zēngjiā)
🇸🇮 razširiti
- povečati
- razviti
🇮🇸 stækka
- auka
- víkka
🇰🇿 кеңейту
- үлкейту
- тарату
🇬🇪 გაფართოება
- გაზრდა
- გავრცელება
🇦🇿 genişləndirmək
- böyütmək
- yaymaq
🇲🇽 expandir
- ampliar
- extender