French word

dilater

Pronunciation

IPA/dilate/

Meaning

  • verbexpand

Example

Le métal se dilate quand il chauffe.

The metal expands when heated.

Illustration for dilater (expand)

More examples

Quand on a peur, les pupilles se dilatent.

When you're afraid, your pupils dilate.

Core concept

A solid body swelling outward as heat makes its boundaries move farther apart.

Common phrases

  • se dilater

    expand

  • les pupilles se dilatent

    the pupils dilate

Similar words

s'élargir: To become wider, enlarging a gap, area, or passage.
gonfler: To swell outward as gas or liquid fills the inside.
augmenter: To increase in amount, degree, scale, or value.

Definition in French

Prendre plus d'espace ou augmenter de volume ; s'étendre en occupant davantage de place.

Word origin

French dilater comes through Old French from Latin dilatare, built from dis- meaning apart and latus meaning broad.

Usage tips

  • In scientific contexts, se dilater describes natural expansion, while dilater quelque chose means to make it expand or widen.

Opposites

Word lists with this word