dilated

adjective

di·​lat·​ed ˈdī-ˌlā-təd 

dī-ˈlā-

1

: marked by expansion or widening : subject to dilation

Some insist that the need to learn is likely to be at the core of our dilated childhood.

—Natalie Angier

specifically : expanded, enlarged, or widened normally or abnormally in all dimensions

dilated pupils

a dilated artery/cervix

Abdominal roentgenograms taken when the patient was upright showed a massively dilated stomach.

—Yogesh K. Gupta

2

: expanded laterally

especially : being flat and widened

dilated leaves

The flower corolla consists of only the upper dilated petal called the standard, or banner.

—Sylvan T. Runkel and Dean M. Roose

3

: caused by dilatation (see dilatation sense 1a)

dilated cardiomyopathy

Examples of dilated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Only a comprehensive dilated eye exam can detect AMD. —Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 5 Dec. 2024

Zoom in: At 17 weeks pregnant, the fetus was starting to come out of her dilated cervix, according to the report. —Kathryn Varn, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024

Other symptoms include a dilated pupil, redness and tears in the affected eye, ptosis, and nasal congestion.4 SUNCT headache: Short-lasting, unilateral, neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) causes moderate to severe pain around the eye or temple. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 25 July 2024

Inside the lobby, a line of people with smeared eye makeup and dilated pupils snaked out of the bathrooms, laughing and flirting next to a wall of fake plants. —Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 1 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

dilated

adjective

di·​lat·​ed dī-ˈlā-təd 

ˈdī-ˌ

1

: expanded, enlarged, or widened normally or abnormally in all dimensions

dilated pupils

a dilated artery/cervix

2

: caused by dilation

dilated cardiomyopathy