dilate

Pronunciation

IPA for "dilate": /daɪˈleɪt/ (This is the most common pronunciation in both American and British English)

• Breakdown by syllable sounds:

• First syllable (daɪ):

• d - voiced alveolar plosive

• ai - long diphthong (like the "i" in "ride")

• Second syllable (leɪt):

• l - voiced alveolar lateral approximant

• eɪ - long diphthong (like the "ay" in "say")

• t - voiceless alveolar plosive

Word Form Variations

"Dilate" itself primarily functions as a verb, so it doesn't have variations for singular and plural forms like nouns do. However, here are the word form variations you might encounter for "dilate":

• Verb:

• Base form: dilate (present tense, singular and plural)

• Past tense: dilated

• Present participle: dilating

• Past participle: dilated

• Nouns:

• Dilation (act of dilating or the state of being dilated)

• Dilatation (less common synonym for dilation) - notice the added "a"

• Adjectives:

• Dilatable (capable of being dilated)

• Dilatational (related to dilation) - again, with the added "a"

• Less common adjective:

• Dilative (having the effect of dilating)

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

Verb:

• Definition:

• To become wider or larger in size, especially an opening or passage.

• (figuratively) To speak or write at length about something.

• Synonyms: widen, expand, broaden, enlarge, distend (for physical objects)

• Antonyms: contract, constrict, narrow, shrink (for physical objects)

Noun:

• Dilation:

• Definition: The act of becoming wider or larger, especially an opening or passage.

• Synonyms: expansion, widening, enlargement, distention

• Antonyms: contraction, constriction, narrowing

• Dilatation: (Less common)

• Definition: Same as dilation.

Adjective:

• Dilatable:

• Definition: Capable of being dilated or widened.

• Dilatational: (Less common)

• Definition: Related to dilation or the act of widening.

• Dilative: (Less common)

• Definition: Having the effect of causing something to dilate or widen.

• (This adjective is rarely used in modern English.)

Note: There are no adverbs directly related to "dilate." You can use adverbs like "slowly," "gradually," or "rapidly" to describe the process of dilation.

Examples of Use

Medical Context (Verb):

• "The doctor will use eyedrops to dilate your pupils for the eye exam." (General public discourse)

• "The surgery aimed to dilate the narrowed artery and improve blood flow." (News article)

Source: Reliable medical website about eye exams

2. Photography (Verb):

• "In low-light conditions, you need to dilate the aperture to capture more light." (Photography blog)

• "With a wider aperture, the background will be more blurred, making the subject stand out." (Online photography tutorial)

3. Figurative Language (Verb):

• "The author dilated upon the history of the city in great detail." (Book review)

• "The politician's speech dilated on various issues but lacked concrete solutions." (Newspaper editorial)

4. Biology (Noun):

• "The iris controls the dilation of the pupil to regulate light entering the eye." (Science textbook)

• "During childbirth, the cervix undergoes dilation to allow for the baby's passage." (Pregnancy website)

5. Engineering (Adjective):

• "This type of plastic tubing is dilatable, making it easier to insert in tight spaces." (Manufacturer's product description)

• "The bridge design incorporates dilatable joints to account for thermal expansion." (Civil engineering article)

Note: The adjectives "dilatational" and "dilative" are less common. They might appear in specialised scientific contexts but are not widely used in everyday language.

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Dilate

While "dilate" is an interesting word, it's not very common in famous quotes. Here are some quotes that use similar words, or capture the essence of dilation in a different way:

1. "Curiosity has its own satisfaction even if it does not lead to tangible results." - Albert Einstein (Expands knowledge)

2. "The eyes are the window to our soul." - Proverb (Reflects emotions)

3. "The mind is everything. What you think you become." - Buddha (Expands consciousness)

4. "The purpose of education is to expand the mind, not to fill it." - Malcolm X (Widens perspective)

5. "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." - Zig Ziglar (Opens up possibilities)

6. "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (Shapes your future)

7. "Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." - Voltaire (Questions assumptions)

8. "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do." - H. Jackson Brown Jr. (Encourages taking action)

9. "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." - John Lennon (Highlights unexpected turns) 

10.  "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." - Albert Einstein (Promotes continuous exploration)

Etymology

The word "dilate" comes from a long journey through languages! It all started with the Latin word "latus," which simply means "wide." Imagine a flat, wide road.

In Latin, they added a prefix "di-" to "latus" which can mean "apart" or "out." Think of dividing something wide in two. So, this new word "dilatus" kind of meant "spread out" or "made wider."

Then, French borrowed this word and changed it to "dilater." It kept the meaning of widening something.

Finally, English borrowed "dilater" from French sometime in the 1300s and changed it to "dilate." The meaning stayed the same – to make something wider. So, next time your pupils get bigger to let in more light, you can thank the ancient Romans for the word "dilate"!

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Dilate

• While there aren't many common idioms directly using "dilate," here are some phrases and workarounds that capture the essence of dilation:

  • Eyes dilated: This indicates alertness, focus, or possibly fear depending on the context.

  • Dilated pupils: Similar to "eyes dilated," but emphasizes the physical widening of the pupils.

  • Dilation of time: (Figurative) This refers to a subjective experience where time seems to slow down, often during intense or stressful situations.

  • Dilate on a subject: (Formal) To speak or write about something at great length, often with excessive detail.

  Here are some alternatives using similar words:

  • Open up: Can be used metaphorically for becoming more receptive or understanding.

  • Widen your eyes: Expresses surprise or disbelief.

  • Broaden your horizons: To expand your knowledge or experience.

  • Go into great detail: Similar to "dilate on a subject" but more common.

Posts Related to Dilate

Source Information

Definition of dilate from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.