What does dilated mean Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈdaɪleɪtɪd/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Adjective

Definition

Expanded or enlarged; widened; increased in size or scope.

Examples

• The doctor examined my dilated pupil.
• The company expanded its operations, dilating its market presence.

Synonyms

• Expanded
• Enlarged
• Increased

Antonyms

• Narrowed
• Constricted
• Contracted

Additional Information

In medicine, dilation refers to the widening of the pupil or a blood vessel. In a broader sense, dilation can refer to the enlargement or expansion of an object, concept, or idea. In business, dilation often refers to the expansion of a company’s market presence or operations.

Dilation can have both positive and negative effects. For example, a dilated blood vessel may indicate a medical condition, while a company’s dilation into new markets may lead to increased growth and revenue. However, dilation can also lead to overexpansion, which can be detrimental to a company’s financial stability.

Etymology

From Old French dilatier, from Latin dilatare, to spread or expand.

Usage Notes

In formal writing, it is common to use “dilate” instead of “dilation” to describe the act of expanding or widening. However, in informal writing and speaking, both forms of the word are commonly used.

Cultural References

In literature, the concept of dilation is often explored in philosophical and scientific contexts. For example, in the novel “Dilatation” by Maurice René Frechet, the protagonist explores the concept of dilation through a series of philosophical and scientific experiments.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

“Dilate your ideas” – to expand or elaborate on a concept or idea.

Related Words or Phrases

• Expand
• Enlarge
• Width
• Extension

Collocations

• to dilate an object
• the dilation of a blood vessel
• dilation in business

Frequency of Use

The word “dilated” is commonly used in medical and scientific contexts, but its frequency of use is relatively low compared to other words in the English language.

Common Misspellings

• dalated
• dilatted