from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Dilate \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.
[1913 Webster]
2. To enlarge upon; to relate at large; to tell copiously or
diffusely. [R.]
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]