dilatare

to dilate, to expand

verb dee-lah-TAH-reh Rare

Origin: From Latin 'dilatare', to spread wide.

Also means

to widen

Usage Note

Dilatare is a regular -are verb used in medical, optical, and general contexts — dilatare le pupille (to dilate the pupils), dilatare un tubo (to widen a pipe). The reflexive dilatarsi means 'to expand' or 'to widen on its own'. It takes avere as auxiliary in the active form.

Examples

"Il caldo dilata i metalli."

Natural Translation

Heat expands metals.

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