EXPANSION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does expansion mean? 

• EXPANSION (noun)
  The noun EXPANSION has 4 senses:

1. the act of increasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope

2. a function expressed as a sum or product of terms

3. a discussion that provides additional information

4. adding information or detail

  Familiarity information: EXPANSION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EXPANSION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of increasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

enlargement; expansion

Hypernyms ("expansion" is a kind of...):

increase; step-up (the act of increasing something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "expansion"):

dilatation; dilation (the act of expanding an aperture)

distension; distention (the act of expanding by pressure from within)

stretching (act of expanding by lengthening or widening)

inflation (the act of filling something with air)

magnification (the act of expanding something in apparent size)

extension (act of expanding in scope; making more widely available)

Antonym:

contraction (the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A function expressed as a sum or product of terms

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Context example:

the expansion of (a+b)^2 is a^2 + 2ab + b^2

Hypernyms ("expansion" is a kind of...):

function; map; mapping; mathematical function; single-valued function ((mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function))

Domain category:

math; mathematics; maths (a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A discussion that provides additional information

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

elaboration; enlargement; expansion

Hypernyms ("expansion" is a kind of...):

discourse; discussion; treatment (an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "expansion"):

expatiation (a discussion (spoken or written) that enlarges on a topic or theme at length or in detail)

embellishment; embroidery (elaboration of an interpretation by the use of decorative (sometimes fictitious) detail)

Derivation:

expand (add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Adding information or detail

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

expanding upon; expansion

Hypernyms ("expansion" is a kind of...):

increase; step-up (the act of increasing something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "expansion"):

amplification; elaboration (addition of extra material or illustration or clarifying detail)

annotating; annotation (the act of adding notes)

subjoining; subjunction; supplementation (the act of supplementing)

Derivation:

expand (add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing)

 Context examples 

If there are any differences in how these supernovas explode and the amount of light they produce, that could have an impact on our understanding of this expansion.

(Trigger for Milky Way’s Youngest Supernova Identified, NASA)

T helper cells induce clonal expansion of T cells that respond to antigen, with IL-2 as a key mediator of T cell proliferation and activation.

(Inflammatory Response Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

The model-consensus at present is that of a Big Bang followed by an expansion.

(There May Be No Dark Matter, Dark Energy in Universe, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Tumor-expressed TGF-beta inhibits T lymphocyte activation and expansion.

(Autologous TGFbeta-Resistant HER2/EBV-Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes, NCI Thesaurus)

But such expansion happened in 1977, 1982, 1994, 2001 and 2007.

(Dust Storms Linked to Gas Escape from Mars Atmosphere, NASA)

A rounded dilation or expansion in a canal, vessel, or organ.

(Bulb, NCI Thesaurus)

Large polyglutamine repeats in the huntingtin protein are the genetic defect responsible for this condition, caused by expansion of a three-base pair repeat in the gene.

(Inhibition of Huntington's Disease Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

HD is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the IT15 gene, which results in a long stretch of polyglutamine close to the amino-terminus of the HD protein huntingtin (Htt).

(Huntington's Disease Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)

In spite of the maturity of his years and of the savage rigidity of the mould that had formed him, his nature was undergoing an expansion.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

This agent also downregulates heparan sulfate and reduces the expansion of cytotoxic effector T cells, interferes with the maturation of dendritic cells and increases T regulatory cells.

(Alpha-1-Proteinase Inhibitor Human, NCI Thesaurus)