1. the action of making something wider, larger, or more open
2. transformations that change the size of a figure while preserving its shape
Usage: mathematics; geometry
3. the widening of body passages or openings, especially during medical procedures
Usage: medical

Examples

• The eye doctor used drops to cause dilations of the pupils.
• Dilations of blood vessels help regulate body temperature.
• In geometry class, we studied dilations that make shapes larger or smaller.
• The math problem involved dilations with a scale factor of 2.
• Medical dilations are sometimes necessary before certain procedures.
• The dilations preserved the triangle’s angles while changing its size.