ɪksˈpænd v. 1 tr. & intr.
increase in size or
bulk or
importance. 2 intr. (often foll. by on)
give a fuller
description or
account. 3 intr.
become more genial or
effusive;
discard one's
reserve. 4 tr. set or
write out in full (something condensed or abbreviated). 5 tr. & intr.
spread out flat. øexpanded
metal sheet metal
slit and stretched
into a
mesh, used to
reinforce concrete and
other brittle materials. øøexpandable adj. expander n. expansible adj. expansibility n. [ME f. L expandere expansspread out (as
EX-(1), pandere spread)]