Di‐late″ (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Dilated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Dilating (?).] [L. dilatare; either fr. di- = dis- + latus wide, not the same word as latus, used as p. p. of ferre to bear (see Latitude); or fr. dilatus, used as p. p. of differre to separate (see Delay, Tolerate, Differ, and cf. Dilatory): cf. F. dilater.] 1. To expand; to distend; to enlarge or extend in all directions; to swell; — opposed to contract; as, the air dilates the lungs; air is dilated by increase of heat.
2. To enlarge upon; to relate at large; to tell copiously or diffusely.
Do me the favor to dilate at full
What hath befallen of them and thee till now. Shak.
Syn. — To expand; swell; distend; enlarge; spread out; amplify; expatiate.