(1) 使膨胀，使伸展，扩充(展，大，张) ((cause sth to) become bigger，larger or greater in size，number or importance) [I，I+prep (into)，T+n，T+n+prep (into)]：～one's knowledge/one's chest/one's influence and prestige 扩大知识面/肺活量/影响和威望;～one's business into new areas (a supermarket empire)/some good ideas into a novel 将某人的生意扩展到新的领域(超市帝国)/将某些好的点子扩写成一部小说;Heat～s metals. 高温会使金属膨胀。Gases(Rocks)～when(they are)heated/in the hot sun/with the sun. 气体(岩石)受热时/在炙热的阳光下/在太阳下会膨胀。Our spare time activities have～ed to include bridge and fishing. 我们的业余活动已扩大到桥牌和垂钓。His business～ed greatly in recent years/rapidly/many times/by fifty per cent. 他的生意近年来增长非常迅速/增长很快/增长了好几倍/增长了50%。The baseball league～ed by adding four teams. 棒球联合会又增加了四支球队。〖同〗 grow，increase，enlarge，multiple，develop，heighten，widen;〖反〗decrease，shrink，contract，condense;

(2) 张(展)开; (花等)开放 (spread out wider; open out; unfold) [I，I+prep]：a face that～s in a bright smile 绽开的笑脸;As the plant grew， its leaves and flowers gradually～ed. 植物在生长过程中，逐渐伸展枝叶，绽放花朵。〖同〗 stretch，spread，extend，open，unfold; 〖反〗 close，fold;

(3) 变得和蔼可亲， 变得亲切起来 (become more good-humored，friendly or talkative) [I]： He began to～a little after he had had a glass of wine. 他喝下了一杯酒之后变得稍微活泼了一点。

(4) 阐述，细说，完全写出 (speak and write fully and in detail) [I+prep (on)]：～on a problem/on what sb says 阐述某个问题/完全写出某个人所说的话;

→ex′pandable adj 可扩大的;ex′pander n 扩大器;ex′panded adj 膨胀的;ex′panding adj 扩张中的;ex′pansion n 扩大(充);

【辨异】expand及swell都表示 “扩充” 或“扩大”。expand 指朝各个方向扩展以占据更多的空间或增加容量，如：expand one's business/one's interest (扩大生意/兴趣);swell 强调由于内部的压力或被加入的东西而使某物变大，如：A tire swells as it is filled with air. (轮胎被充气后便会膨胀起来。)