verb
dilate
deye-LAYT
Dilate (verb) means to become or make wider, larger, or more open. Example: “Her pupils dilated in the dark room.”
verb
1
To become or make wider, larger, or more open.
"Her pupils dilated in the dark room."
"Doctors use drops to dilate the eyes before an exam."
2
(formal) To speak or write about something at length.
"He dilated on the subject for nearly an hour."
How to use dilate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo widen or expand, especially used for pupils, blood vessels, or the cervix.
Common pairings
pupils dilate
dilate the cervix
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- dilates
- Past tense
- dilated
- Comparative
- more dilate
- Superlative
- most dilate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her pupils _____ in the dark room.
Etymology
From Latin dilatare, "to spread out," from dis- plus latus, "wide."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dilate
See all rhymes for dilate →Frequently asked questions
What does “dilate” mean?
The word “dilate” means to become or make wider, larger, or more open. In plain terms, to widen or expand, especially used for pupils, blood vessels, or the cervix.
How do you pronounce “dilate”?
“Dilate” is pronounced deye-LAYT (/daɪˈleɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “dilate” in a sentence?
Here is “dilate” used in a sentence: “Her pupils dilated in the dark room.”
What part of speech is “dilate”?
“Dilate” is a verb.
Where does the word “dilate” come from?
The word “dilate” comes from Latin. From Latin dilatare, "to spread out," from dis- plus latus, "wide.".
How many meanings does “dilate” have?
“Dilate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to become or make wider, larger, or more open.
