dilation — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The act of dilating.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

2. State of being dilated; expansion; dilatation.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   expansiondilatation

3. Delay.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   cunctationhold-up

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The wise queen, however she might seem to have a fair opportunity offered to her suit, finds it not good to apprehend it too suddenly; as desiring by this small dilation to prepare the ear and heart of the king for so important a request

4. In morphology, a basic operation (denoted ⊕) that usually uses a structuring element for probing and expanding the shapes contained in the input image.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Noun

1. a lengthy discussion (spoken or written) on a particular topic

   Broader terms

   discussiontreatmentdiscourse

2. the act of expanding an aperture

   Synonyms

   dilatation

   Broader terms

   expansionenlargement

   Examples

   the dilation of the pupil of the eye