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Expand vs. Extend — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Expand and Extend

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Definitions

Expand

To open (something) up or out; spread out
The bird expanded its wings and flew off.

Extend

To cause (something) to last longer
Extended our visit by a day.

Expand

To increase the size, volume, quantity, or scope of; enlarge
Expanded her store by adding a second room.

Extend

To cause (something) to be longer, wider, or cover more area
Extended the subway line into the next town.

Expand

To express at length or in detail; enlarge on
Expanded his remarks afterward.
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Extend

To enlarge the scope or effect of
Research that extended our knowledge of the universe.

Expand

(Mathematics) To write (a quantity) as a sum of terms in an extended form.

Extend

To prolong the time allowed for payment of
Extend a loan for three more months.

Expand

To become greater in size, volume, quantity, or scope
Air expands when heated. This critic's influence is expanding.

Extend

To put off; postpone
Extended the deadline by a week.
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Expand

To speak or write at length or in detail
Expand on a favorite topic.

Extend

To present; offer
Extend one's greetings.

Expand

To open up or out; unfold
The chair expands to form a daybed.

Extend

To make available; provide
Extend credit to qualified purchasers.

Expand

(transitive) To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open.
You can expand this compact umbrella to cover a large table.

Extend

To open or straighten (something) out; unbend
Extended the legs of the folding table.

Expand

(transitive) To increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something).
A flower expands its leaves.

Extend

To increase in quantity or bulk by adding a cheaper substance
Used rice or pasta to extend leftover casseroles.

Expand

(transitive) To express (something) at length and/or in detail.

Extend

To exert (oneself) vigorously or to full capacity
Few mountain climbers have extended themselves as those two have.

Expand

To rewrite (an expression) as a longer, yet equivalent sum of terms.
Use the binomial theorem to expand {(x+1)}^4.

Extend

To cause to move at full gallop. Used of a horse.

Expand

To become, by rewriting, a longer, yet equivalent sum of terms.
The expression {(x+1)}^4 expands to x^4 + 4x^3 + 6x^2 + 4x + 1.

Extend

To appraise or assess; value.

Expand

To multiply both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same natural number yielding a fraction of equal value

Extend

To seize or make a levy on for the purpose of settling a debt.

Expand

(intransitive) To change or grow from smaller to larger in form, number, or size.
Many materials expand when heated.
This compact umbrella expands to cover a large table.

Extend

To be or become long, large, or comprehensive
Influence that extended to other continents.
Table legs that extend by unscrewing.

Expand

(intransitive) To increase in extent, number, volume or scope.

Extend

(intransitive) To increase in extent.

Expand

(intransitive) To speak or write at length or in detail.
He expanded on his plans for the business.

Extend

(intransitive) To possess a certain extent; to cover an amount of space.
The desert extended for miles in all directions.

Expand

(intransitive) To feel generous or optimistic.

Extend

(transitive) To cause to increase in extent.

Expand

To lay open by extending; to open wide; to spread out; to diffuse; as, a flower expands its leaves.
Then with expanded wings he steers his flight.

Extend

(transitive) To cause to last for a longer period of time.

Expand

To cause the particles or parts of to spread themselves or stand apart, thus increasing bulk without addition of substance; to make to occupy more space; to dilate; to distend; to extend every way; to enlarge; - opposed to contract; as, to expand the chest; heat expands all bodies; to expand the sphere of benevolence.

Extend

(transitive) To straighten (a limb).

Expand

To state in enlarged form; to develop; as, to expand an equation. See Expansion, 5.

Extend

(transitive) To bestow; to offer; to impart; to apply.
To extend sympathy to the suffering
To extend credit to a valued customer

Expand

To become widely opened, spread apart, dilated, distended, or enlarged; as, flowers expand in the spring; metals expand by heat; the heart expands with joy.

Extend

To increase in quantity by weakening or adulterating additions.

Expand

Extend in one or more directions;
The dough expands

Extend

To value, as lands taken by a writ of extent in satisfaction of a debt; to assign by writ of extent.

Expand

Become larger in size or volume or quantity;
His business expanded rapidly

Extend

(object-oriented programming) Of a class: to be an extension or subtype of, or to be based on, a prototype or a more abstract class.
The classes Person and Dog extend the class Animal.

Expand

Make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity;
Expand the house by adding another wing

Extend

To reenlist for a further period.

Expand

Grow stronger;
The economy was booming

Extend

Misspelling of extent

Expand

Exaggerate or make bigger;
The charges were inflated

Extend

To stretch out; to prolong in space; to carry forward or continue in length; as, to extend a line in surveying; to extend a cord across the street.
Few extend their thoughts toward universal knowledge.

Expand

Add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing;
She elaborated on the main ideas in her dissertation

Extend

To enlarge, as a surface or volume; to expand; to spread; to amplify; as, to extend metal plates by hammering or rolling them.

Expand

Expand the influence of;
The King extended his rule to the Eastern part of the continent

Extend

To enlarge; to widen; to carry out further; as, to extend the capacities, the sphere of usefulness, or commerce; to extend power or influence; to continue, as time; to lengthen; to prolong; as, to extend the time of payment or a season of trial.

Extend

To hold out or reach forth, as the arm or hand.
His helpless hand extend.

Extend

To bestow; to offer; to impart; to apply; as, to extend sympathy to the suffering.

Extend

To increase in quantity by weakening or adulterating additions; as, to extend liquors.

Extend

To value, as lands taken by a writ of extent in satisfaction of a debt; to assign by writ of extent.

Extend

Extend in scope or range or area;
The law was extended to all citizens
Widen the range of applications
Broaden your horizon
Extend your backyard

Extend

Stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point;
Service runs all the way to Cranbury
His knowledge doesn't go very far
My memory extends back to my fourth year of life
The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets

Extend

Span an interval of distance, space or time;
The war extended over five years
The period covered the turn of the century
My land extends over the hills on the horizon
This farm covers some 200 acres

Extend

Make available; provide;
Extend a loan
The bank offers a good deal on new mortgages

Extend

Thrust or extend out;
He held out his hand
Point a finger
Extend a hand
The bee exserted its sting

Extend

Reach outward in space;
The awning extends several feet over the sidewalk

Extend

Offer verbally;
Extend my greetings
He offered his sympathy

Extend

Extend one's limbs or muscles, or the entire body;
Stretch your legs!
Extend your right arm above your head

Extend

Expand the influence of;
The King extended his rule to the Eastern part of the continent

Extend

Lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer;
We prolonged our stay
She extended her visit by another day
The meeting was drawn out until midnight

Extend

Extend or stretch out to a greater or the full length;
Unfold the newspaper
Stretch out that piece of cloth
Extend the TV antenna

Extend

Cause to move at full gallop;
Did you gallop the horse just now?

Extend

Open or straighten out; unbend;
Can we extend the legs of this dining table?

Extend

Use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity;
He really extended himself when he climbed Kilimanjaro
Don't strain your mind too much

Extend

Prolong the time allowed for payment of;
Extend the loan

Extend

Continue or extend;
The civil war carried into the neighboring province
The disease extended into the remote mountain provinces

Extend

Increase in quantity or bulk by adding a cheaper substance;
Stretch the soup by adding some more cream
Extend the casserole with a little rice

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