From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishexpandex‧pand /ɪkˈspænd/ ●●○ S3 W3 AWL verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT to become larger in size, number, or amount, or to make something become larger → expansion OPP contract Water expands as it freezes. Sydney’s population expanded rapidly in the 1960s. exercises that expand the chest muscles his expanding waistline► see thesaurus at increase2 [intransitive, transitive]INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 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 technologyexpand into We have plans to expand into the U.S. market.3 [intransitive]CONFIDENT literary to become more confident and start to talk more After a few whiskies he started to expand a little. → expand on/upon something→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
expand• The universe is constantly expanding.• Trade between developing countries and industrialized countries is beginning to expand.• Heat makes the gas in the container expand.• The business was growing rapidly and beginning to expand abroad.• The 1980s saw the romance movement expand and change directions somewhat.• The agency hopes to expand coverage of new musical talent on its Internet site.• They fund programs that expand health benefits to wider segments of the community.• Dr. Martin also helped expand housing opportunities for people with AIDs.• The sports and leisure market is expanding more quickly than ever before.• New Historicism's usual response to this is to expand on Montrose's point about the inevitability of critical partiality existing.• Gradually, the number of individual objectors prepared to enter the fray began to expand outside the initial handful.• Pepsi has aggressive plans to expand overseas.• The Drugs unit aims to expand pupils' knowledge of drugs so that they appreciate that only some drugs are socially acceptable.• Medical insurance companies expanded rapidly during the 1980s.• The population of Texas expanded rapidly in the '60s.• She intends to expand the company's operations in the US.• The university is planning to expand the number of students to over 20,000.• Domestication of new animals for their products will probably expand to meet the demands no longer met from wild stock.• Metals expand when they are heated.• The containers are made of peat and wood fiber laced with soluble fertilizer and peat pellets that expand when watered.expanded rapidly• The number of tram passengers expanded rapidly.• Catholic education expanded rapidly after 1945.• Since 1945, the traditional functions of Parliament had expanded rapidly and had become more technical and complex.• Since the I950s, world trade has expanded rapidly, driving incomes higher along the way.• The Boston economy expanded rapidly during the 1970s and the shift from a manufacturing to a service base accelerated during that time.• Villages as well as towns expanded rapidly during the first half of the nineteenth century.• Although joint venture programmes have expanded rapidly in recent years, care has been taken to contain the growth of core staff.• The Body Shop expanded rapidly under the franchise system.rapidly expanding• From Melbourne to Seoul, intraregional trade and investments were rapidly expanding.• The rapidly expanding capabilities of information technology would facilitate the process.• The finding moves the heart into the rapidly expanding club of organs that appear to have a capacity for self-repair.• She added to his rapidly expanding jewelry collection.• The impetus for these practices came from the need to remunerate the rapidly expanding number of clerks in royal service.• Its economy is rapidly expanding, partly thanks to its many natural resources and its enormous reserves of hydro-electric energy.• And the rapidly expanding public school system itself created a huge demand for teachers.• However, for the twelfth century we are much better informed about the rapidly expanding wine trade.From Longman Business Dictionaryexpandex‧pand /ɪkˈspænd/ verb [intransitive, transitive]1to become larger in size, amount, or number, or to make something larger in size, amount, or numberIf banks increase their lending, the money supply will expand.The money will be invested on upgrading sorting offices and expanding the Post Office vehicle fleet.2COMMERCE if an economy, industry, or business activity expands, it gets bigger or more successfulThe business was growing very rapidly and expanding abroad.Many firms borrowed heavily to expand their businesses.The Chancellor is predicting that the economy will expand at 3% a year.expand intoWestern car makers are hoping to expand into Eastern Europe.→ See Verb tableOrigin expand (1400-1500) Latin expandere, from pandere “to spread” 