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Expand vs Wide - What's the difference?

expand | wide |

As a verb expand

is (label) to change (something) from a smaller form and/or size to a larger one.

As an adjective wide is

having a large physical extent from side to side.

As an adverb wide is

extensively.

As a noun wide is

(cricket) a ball that passes so far from the batsman that the umpire deems it unplayable; the arm signal used by an umpire to signal a wide; the extra run added to the batting side's score.

expand

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (label) To change (something) from a smaller form and/or size to a larger one.
  • (label) To increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something).
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • Then with expanded wings he steers his flight.
  • (label) To express (something) at length and/or in detail.
  • To rewrite (an expression) as a longer, yet equivalent sum of terms.
  • To multiply both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same natural number yielding a fraction of equal value
  • (label) To (be) change(d) from a smaller form/size to a larger one.
  • (label) To (be) increase(d) in extent, number, volume or scope.
  • (label) To speak or write at length or in detail.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1899, author=(Stephen Crane)
  • , title=, chapter=1 , passage=There was some laughter, and Roddle was left free to expand his ideas on the periodic visits of cowboys to the town. “Mason Rickets, he had ten big punkins a-sittin' in front of his store, an' them fellers from the Upside-down-F ranch shot 'em up […].”}}
  • (label) To feel generous or optimistic.
  • Synonyms

    * open out, spread, spread out, unfold * enlarge * (to express at length or in detail) elaborate (on), expand on

    Antonyms

    * contract * contract * factor

    Derived terms

    * expandable * expander

    wide

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Having a large physical extent from side to side.
  • Large in scope.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author= Fenella Saunders
  • , title= Tiny Lenses See the Big Picture, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=The single-imaging optic of the mammalian eye offers some distinct visual advantages. Such lenses can take in photons from a wide range of angles, increasing light sensitivity. They also have high spatial resolution, resolving incoming images in minute detail.}}
  • (sports) Operating at the side of the playing area.
  • On one side or the other of the mark; too far sideways from the mark, the wicket, the batsman, etc.
  • * Spenser
  • Surely he shoots wide on the bow hand.
  • * Massinger
  • I was but two bows wide .
  • (phonetics, dated) Made, as a vowel, with a less tense, and more open and relaxed, condition of the organs in the mouth.
  • Remote; distant; far.
  • * Hammond
  • the contrary being so wide from the truth of Scripture and the attributes of God
  • (obsolete) Far from truth, propriety, necessity, etc.
  • * Milton
  • our wide expositors
  • * Latimer
  • It is far wide that the people have such judgments.
  • * Herbert
  • How wide is all this long pretence!
  • (computing) Of or supporting a greater range of text characters than can fit into the traditional representation.
  • a wide''' character; a '''wide stream

    Antonyms

    * narrow (regarding empty area) * thin (regarding occupied area) * skinny (sometimes offensive, regarding body width)

    Adverb

    (er)
  • extensively
  • He travelled far and wide .
  • completely
  • He was wide awake.
  • away from a given goal
  • The arrow fell wide of the mark.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2010 , date=December 29 , author=Sam Sheringham , title=Liverpool 0 - 1 Wolverhampton , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=The Reds carved the first opening of the second period as Glen Johnson's pull-back found David Ngog but the Frenchman hooked wide from six yards.}}
  • So as to leave or have a great space between the sides; so as to form a large opening.
  • (Shakespeare)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (cricket) A ball that passes so far from the batsman that the umpire deems it unplayable; the arm signal used by an umpire to signal a wide; the extra run added to the batting side's score
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