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Widen vs Distend - What's the difference?

widen | distend | Related terms |

In intransitive terms the difference between widen and distend

is that widen is to become wide or wider while distend is to extend or expand, as from internal pressure; to swell.

In transitive terms the difference between widen and distend

is that widen is to broaden or extend in scope or range while distend is to cause to swell.

widen

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To become wide or wider.
  • His eyes widened as her negligee fell to the floor.
  • To make wide or wider.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=September 29 , author=Tom Rostance , title=Stoke 2 - 1 Besiktas , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=But he still saw his side produce a rousing display which owed much to their lauded prowess from set-pieces, despite Uefa regulations meaning the pitch had to be widened and, in the process, the run-up area for Delap's long throws reduced.}}
  • To let out clothes to a larger size.
  • She widened his trousers for him.
  • To broaden or extend in scope or range.
  • The police widened their enquiries.

    Anagrams

    * * * English ergative verbs

    distend

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To extend or expand, as from internal pressure; to swell
  • *
  • (transitive, reflexive, archaic) To extend; to stretch out; to spread out.
  • * 1662 Thomas Salusbury, Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (Dialogue 2):
  • These impure and frail matters are conteined within the angust concave of the Lunar Orb, above which with uninterrupted Series the things Celestial distend themselves.
  • * Milton
  • But say, what mean those coloured streaks in heaven / Distended as the brow of God appeased?
  • To cause to swell.
  • (biology) To cause gravidity.
  • Derived terms

    * distensible

    References

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