Dis‐play″ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Displayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Displaying.] [OE. displaien, desplaien, OF. despleier, desploier, F. déployer; pref. des- (L. dis-) + pleier, ploier, plier, F. ployer, plier, to fold, bend, L. plicare. See Ply, and cf. Deploy, Splay.] 1. To unfold; to spread wide; to expand; to stretch out; to spread.
The northern wind his wings did broad display. Spenser.
2. (Mil.) To extend the front of (a column), bringing it into line. Farrow.
3. To spread before the view; to show; to exhibit to the sight, or to the mind; to make manifest.
His statement... displays very clearly the actual condition of the army. Burke.
4. To make an exhibition of; to set in view conspicuously or ostentatiously; to exhibit for the sake of publicity; to parade.
Proudly displaying the insignia of their order. Prescott.
5. (Print.) To make conspicuous by large or prominent type.
6. To discover; to descry.
And from his seat took pleasure to display
The city so adorned with towers. Chapman.
Syn. — To exhibit; show; manifest; spread out; parade; expand; flaunt.