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Webster 1913 Edition

Expansion

Ex-pan′sion

,
Noun.
[L.
expansio
: cf. F.
expansion
.]
1.
The act of expanding or spreading out; the condition of being expanded; dilation; enlargement.
2.
That which is expanded; expanse; extend surface;
as, the
expansion
of a sheet or of a lake; the
expansion
was formed of metal
.
The starred
expansion
of the skies.
Beattie.
3.
Space through which anything is expanded; also, pure space.
Lost in
expansion
, void and infinite.
Blackmore.
5.
(Math.)
The developed result of an indicated operation;
as, the
expansion
of
(a + b)
2
is
a
2
+ 2ab + b
2
.
6.
(Steam Engine)
The operation of steam in a cylinder after its communication with the boiler has been cut off, by which it continues to exert pressure upon the moving piston.
7.
(Nav. Arch.)
The enlargement of the ship mathematically from a model or drawing to the full or building size, in the process of construction.
Ham. Nav. Encyc.
☞ Expansion is also used adjectively, as in expansion joint, expansion gear, etc.
Expansion curve
,
a curve the coördinates of which show the relation between the pressure and volume of expanding gas or vapor; esp.
(Steam engine)
, that part of an indicator diagram which shows the declining pressure of the steam as it expands in the cylinder.
–
Expansion gear
(Steam Engine)
.
a cut-off gear. See Illust. of
Link motion
.
–
Automatic expansion gear
or
Automatic cut-off
,
one that is regulated by the governor, and varies the supply of steam to the engine with the demand for power.
–
Fixed expansion gear
, or
Fixed cut-off
,
one that always operates at the same fixed point of the stroke.
–
Expansion joint
, or
Expansion coupling
(Mech. & Engin.)
,
a yielding joint or coupling for so uniting parts of a machine or structure that expansion, as by heat, is prevented from causing injurious strains;
as:
(a)
A slide or set of rollers, at the end of bridge truss, to support it but allow end play.
(b)
A telescopic joint in a steam pipe, to permit one part of the pipe to slide within the other.
(c)
A clamp for holding a locomotive frame to the boiler while allowing lengthwise motion.
(d)
a strip of compressible material placed at intervals between blocks of poured concrete, as in roads or sidewalks.
–
Expansion valve
(Steam Engine)
,
a cut-off valve, to shut off steam from the cylinder before the end of each stroke.

Webster 1828 Edition

Expansion

EXPAN'SION

,
Noun.
[L. expansio.] The act of expanding or spreading out.
1.
The state of being expanded; the enlargement of surface or bulk; dilatation. We apply expansion to surface, as the expansion of a sheet or of a lake, and to bulk, as the expansion of fluids or metals by heat; but not to a line or length without breadth.
2.
Extent; space to which any thing is enlarged; also, pure space or distance between remote bodies.
3.
Enlargement; as the expansion of the heart or affections.

Definition 2024

expansion

expansion

See also: Expansion and expansión

English

Noun

expansion ‎(countable and uncountable, plural expansions)

  1. The act or process of expanding.
    The expansion of metals and plastics in response to heat is well understood.
  2. The fractional change in unit length per unit length per unit temperature change.
  3. A new addition.
    My new office is in the expansion behind the main building.
  4. A product to be used with a previous product.
    This expansion requires the original game board.
  5. That which is expanded; expanse; extended surface.
    • Beattie
      the starred expansion of the skies
  6. (steam engines) The operation of steam in a cylinder after its communication with the boiler has been cut off, by which it continues to exert pressure upon the moving piston.

Antonyms

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Translations

French

Noun

expansion f ‎(plural expansions)

  1. expansion

Etymology

Pronunciation

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