expansion

Plural: expansions

Noun

• the act of increasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope
• a function expressed as a sum or product of terms
  • "the expansion of (a+b)^2 is a^2 + 2ab + b^2"
• a discussion that provides additional information
• adding information or detail
• An act, process, or instance of expanding.
• An act, process, or instance of expanding.
• The fractional change in unit length per unit length per unit temperature change.
• An act, process, or instance of expanding.
• A new addition.
• An act, process, or instance of expanding.
• A product to be used with a previous product.
• An act, process, or instance of expanding.
• That which is expanded; expanse; extended surface.
• An act, process, or instance of expanding.
• The operation of steam in a cylinder after its communication with the boiler has been cut off, by which it continues to exert pressure upon the moving piston.
• An act, process, or instance of expanding.
• The replacement of a short name (e.g., acronym, initialism, alphanumeric symbol, abbreviation) with the longer name that is synonymous with it, as when spelling out acronyms to ensure clarity for a general audience.
• An act, process, or instance of expanding.
• The replacement of a short name (e.g., acronym, initialism, alphanumeric symbol, abbreviation) with the longer name that is synonymous with it, as when spelling out acronyms to ensure clarity for a general audience.
• The string of text thus substituted.
• An act, process, or instance of expanding.
• Ellipsis of expansion pack.
• An act, process, or instance of expanding.
• An increase in the market value of an economy over time.
• An act, process, or instance of expanding.
• Stretching of geometric objects with flat sides.
• An act, process, or instance of expanding.
• The rewriting of an expression as a longer but equivalent sum of terms.

Examples

• Expansion of acronyms is often helpful for nonexpert readers (anacronyms excluded).
• Look up the expansion of 1018 steel at stick welding temps and figure out how far this thing's gonna bend once we weld it up.
• My new office is in the expansion behind the main building.
• The acronym "FNDs" can mean either "functional neurologic disorders" or "focal neurologic deficits", so you'd better use the expansion instead of the acronym, for clarity in this context; readers of this paragraph may not have read, or remember, which definition you used 40 pages earlier.
• The expansion of metals and plastics in response to heat is well understood.
• This expansion requires the original game board.

Synonyms

elaboration, enlargement, expanding upon, annex, coefficient of thermal expansion

Antonyms

contraction, shrinkage

Related Words

expand, expanse, expansive