Words / B2

dy-LAYT/daɪˈleɪt/

To dilate is to become wider, or to make an opening in the body wider: pupils dilate; blood vessels dilate. Enlarge (this batch) is the general “make bigger” twin; expand is broader. Time how the pupil dilates in the practical, then name the stimulus. Mix-up: dilate vs delay; dilute (already related); do not write dilate for a photograph that is only printed larger (enlarge).

Meaning

To become wider, or to make an opening in the body wider (pupils dilate).

Examples

• “Time how the pupil dilates in the practical, then name the stimulus, the biology paper said.”
• “Vessels dilated in the thermoregulation case, which is still a named response — quote the temperature if given.”

Good to know

pupils / vessels dilate; dilate in response to. Close: widen / enlarge (this batch, general size). Trap: delay / dilute / a bigger print. Biology and PE. An opening gets wider — name the organ and the stimulus.

Near in meaning

widen, expand, open out

New