verb
dilate
dye-LAYT/daɪˈleɪt/
To become wider or make something wider.
The pupil dilates while the surrounding eye stays the same size.
Etymology
“Apart” and “wide” together express spreading outward. The Latin verb meant to make wider; the selected English sense describes something itself becoming wider or more open.
In context
the patient receives special eye drops that dilate the pupils. The pupils open wide allowing the doctor to see the back of the eye clearly.
More examples
- The physician used drops to dilate the pupil.
- The vessel began to dilate.
- The opening dilates as the surrounding muscle relaxes.
Forms
dilate · dilates · dilated · dilating
dilation noun — widening