dilation
|di-la-tion|
/daɪˈleɪʃən/
spreading out / enlargement
Etymology
'dilation' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'dilatatio', where 'dilatare' meant 'to spread out' (from prefix 'di-/dis-' meaning 'apart' and root related to 'latus' meaning 'wide or spread').
'dilation' changed from the Latin word 'dilatatio' and passed into Old French as 'dilatation' before entering Middle English; it eventually became the modern English word 'dilation'.
Initially it meant 'the action of spreading out' in a general sense, but over time it broadened to include specific senses such as medical widening and geometric scaling.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the action or process of becoming wider, larger, or more open; expansion or enlargement.
The dilation of the pipe improved the flow of water.
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Noun 2
in medicine, the widening or opening of a body part or passage (e.g., pupil dilation, cervical dilation).
During the exam the doctor noted dilation of the patient's pupils.
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Noun 3
in geometry and linear algebra, a transformation that produces a figure similar to the original but scaled larger or smaller from a center point (scaling).
A dilation with scale factor 2 about the origin doubles all coordinates.
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Noun 4
in anatomy/physiology, an increase in volume of a hollow organ or cavity.
Ultrasound revealed dilation of the renal pelvis.
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Last updated: 2025/08/14 06:18