enlarge

Verb

enlarge (third-person singular simple present enlarges, present participle enlarging, simple past and past participle enlarged)

1. (transitive) To make (something) larger.
   • We'll need to enlarge our budget if we want to include the helicopter ride in our holiday.

   Synonyms:

   embiggen, enlargen, largen, greaten, add, amplify, augment, dilate, eke / eke out, elevate

2. (intransitive) To grow larger.

   Synonyms:

   expand, grow, accelerate, accrue, aggrandize, augment, embiggen, enhance, greaten, heighten

3. (transitive) To increase the capacity of; to expand; to give free scope or greater scope to; also, to dilate, as with joy, affection, etc.
   • Knowledge enlarges the mind.
   • O ye Corinthians, our […] heart is enlarged.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Corinthians 6:11

   Synonyms:

   expand

4. (intransitive) To speak or write at length upon or on (some subject); expand; elaborate
   • We are then told of the basilisk killing by staring, and of a mous running round a snake till it rushes into the jaws of death. After copying many such anilities, the author adds only, "but our readers will excuse our enlarging."1819, The Edinburgh Monthly Review, volume 1, page 707
   • I shall enlarge upon the Point.1663 (indicated as 1664), [Samuel Butler], “The Second Part of Hudibras”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC...

   Synonyms:

   dilate, expatiate, expound

5. (archaic) To release; to set at large.
   • Like a Lionesse lately enlarged.a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London...
   • Finding no meanes how I might us enlarge, / But if that Dwarfe I could with me convay, / I lightly snatcht him up and with me bore away.1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   free, liberate, set free

6. To get more astern or parallel with the vessel's course; to draw aft; said of the wind.
7. To extend the time allowed for compliance with (an order or rule).
   • the court would not take farther time to adjourn and deliberate, where the term was near spent, unless the parties would consent to enlarge it1795, Charles Runnington, The History, Principles and Practice […]