/ɪk'stend; ɪk`stɛnd/
v
1 [Tn] make (sth) longer or larger (in space or time) 使（某物）（在空间或时间上）更大, 更长, 伸长, 延长, 延展
*extend a fence, wall, railway, garden 扩建篱笆、墙、铁路、花园
* extend credit, ie prolong the time for payment of a debt 延长信用期限
* Can you extend your visit a few days longer? 你能多停留几天吗?
2 [Tn, Tn.pr] lay or stretch out (the body or a limb) at full length 伸展, 舒展（肢体）
*The gymnast extended her arms horizontally. 那女子体操运动员双臂平伸.
* The bird extended its wings in flight. 那鸟展翅飞翔.
* He extended his hand to (ie offered to shake hands with) the new employee. 他主动与新雇员握手.
3 [Tn, Dn.n, Dn.pr] ~ sth (to sb) offer or give sth 提供或给予某事物
*They extended the Queen a warm welcome. 他们热烈欢迎女王.
* extend hospitality, an invitation, a greeting to sb 款待、邀请、问候某人
* They extended a warm welcome to her. 他们向她表示热烈欢迎.
4 [In/pr] (of space, land, time, etc) reach or stretch; be continuous （指空间、土地、时间等）达到, 伸展, 伸延
*The road extends for miles and miles. 这条路向远处绵延伸展.
* My garden extends as far as the river. 我的花园一直伸展到河边.
5 [Tn, Tn.pr] cause (sth) to reach or stretch 使（某物）达到或伸展
*extend the ladder 将梯子伸长
* extend a cable between two posts 在两根柱子间拉一条缆绳.
6 [Tn esp passive 尤用于被动语态] use or stretch the abilities or powers of (oneself, a person or an animal) to the greatest possible degree 使（自己、某人或某动物）竭尽全力
*Jim didn't really have to extend himself in the examination. 吉姆这次考试大可不必那么拼命.
* The horse was fully extended by the long ride up the mountain. 那匹马长途爬山已用尽力气了.

v

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1【time】
2【area/distance】
3【size】
4【include/affect】
5【offer help/thanks】
6【arms/legs】
7【continue winning】
8【furniture】

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[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin;Origin: extendere, from tendere 'to stretch']
【TIME】 [I + adverb/preposition,T]
to continue for a longer period of time, or to make something last longer
　Management have agreed to extend the deadline.
extend for/into/over etc
　Some of our courses extend over two years.
extend sth for/by/until sth
　The government has extended the ban on the import of beef until June.
【AREA/DISTANCE】 [I always + adverb/preposition]
to continue for a particular distance or over a particular area
+ across/over/through etc
　The River Nile extends as far south as Lake Victoria.
extend 100 km/30 yards etc (from sth)
　The shelf extends 20 cms from the bookcase.
【SIZE】 [T]
to make a room, building, road etc bigger or longer
　We plan to extend the kitchen by six feet.
【INCLUDE/AFFECT】
a) [I always + adverb/preposition]
to affect or include people, things, or places
extend to/beyond etc
　My duties at the school extend beyond just teaching.
　The vote was extended to all women aged 21 and over in 1928.
b) [T]
to make something affect more people, situations, areas etc than before
　British Coal is planning to extend its operations in Wales.
extend sth to sb/sth
　We can extend our insurance cover to travel abroad.
【OFFER HELP/THANKS】 [T]formal
to officially offer someone help, sympathy, thanks etc
extend sth to sb
　We'd like to extend a warm welcome to our French visitors.
　I'd like to extend my thanks to all the catering staff.
　The Coroner extended his sympathy to the victim's family.
　The Headteacher has extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit the school.
　The banks have decided to extend credit to the company (=allow them to borrow more money) .
【ARMS/LEGS】 [T]
to stretch out a hand or leg
　George extended his hand (=offered to shake hands) .
【CONTINUE WINNING】 [T]
to increase the number of points, games etc by which one person or team is ahead of other competitors
　Manchester United extended their lead at the top of the table to 10 points.
【FURNITURE】 [I and T]
if a table or ladder extends, it can be made longer