/ɪk'spænd; ɪk`spænd/
v
1 [I, Ipr, Tn, Tn.pr] ~ (sth) (into sth) (cause sth to) become greater in size, number or importance 使（某事物）变大, 扩大, 增大, 增加, 增强, 扩展
*Metals expand when they are heated. 金属受热则膨胀.
* A tyre expands when you pump air into it. 轮胎一打气就鼓起来.
* His modest business eventually expanded into a supermarket empire. 他原先不大的生意後来扩展成了超级市场集团企业.
* Our foreign trade has expanded greatly in recent years. 我国的对外贸易近年来已有极大发展.
* Why not try to expand your story into a novel? 你怎么不把你的故事扩展成小说呢?
2 [I, Ipr] spread out; unfold 伸展; 伸开; 张开; 展开
*The petals of the flowers expanded in the sunshine. 花瓣在阳光下张开了.
* His face expanded in a smile of welcome. 他喜笑颜开地表示欢迎. Cf 参看 contract3.
3 [I] (of a person) become more friendly or talkative （指人）变得热情或愿意交谈
*The guests expanded a little when they'd had a glass or two of wine. 客人们喝了一两杯酒以後, 就有说有笑了.
4 (phr v) expand on sth develop or give more of (a story, an argument, etc) 阐述或详述（某事, 故事, 论点等）
*You mentioned the need for extra funding. Would you expand on that? 你曾提到需要一笔额外资金. 你详细谈谈好吗?

v
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin;Origin: expandere, from pandere 'to spread']
[I and T]
to become larger in size, number, or amount, or to make something become larger
→expansion
≠ contract
　Water expands as it freezes.
　Sydney's population expanded rapidly in the 1960s.
　exercises that expand the chest muscles
　his expanding waistline
[I and T]
if a company, business etc expands, or if someone expands it, they open new shops, factories etc
→expansion
　The computer industry has expanded greatly over the last decade.
　The hotel wants to expand its business by adding a swimming pool.
　the rapidly expanding field of information technology
expand into
　We have plans to expand into the U.S. market.
[I]literary
to become more confident and start to talk more
　After a few whiskies he started to expand a little.
expand on/upon [expand on/upon sth] phr v
to add more details or information to something that you have already said
　Payne later expanded on his initial statement.