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dilatation

dilatation

1 8.7
A widening of a body part, for example the pupil in the eye or the cervix during labour
  • noun
  • /ˌdɪləˈteɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : dilatación
  • Occasionally, there is ventricular dilatation as a result of direct or indirect compression of cerebrospinal fluid pathways 9.
  • endothelium-dependent dilatation
  • dilatation and curettage
  • constant dilatation

Examples

  • The findings suggest that hypercholesterolaemia impairs endothelium-dependent dilatation of the coronary microcirculation and that this impairment can be restored by short-term administration of L-arginine.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Esophageal stricture may require frequent dilatation, and laryngeal obstruction may require tracheostomy.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The results of the constant dilatation analyses will not be presented in this paper.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Dr Frank Burns is doing a bit of dilatation and curettage.

  • There she eats the poor hospital food and has dilatation and aminoscopy every second day.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Subsequently, the stomach appears as a fusiform dilatation of the foregut, and its appearance changes as various regions of its wall grow at different rates.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Steege's model used constant dilatation elements for tissue as described in detail by Silver-Thorn (10).

    Academic text (1993)
  • Cervical dilatation and effacement were checked by the gynecologist, and the progression of labor was normal.

    Academic text (2007)
  • However, more than half the children with hydronephrosis or ureteric reflux had only slight dilatation (5 mm or less).

    Academic text (1991)
  • The patient showed significant dilatation of the blood vessels during the examination.

Synonyms

dilation
vsdilatation
13 6.5

Making an opening larger, for example blood vessels or pupils

is used mainly for body structures in medical or scientific contexts
enlargement
vsdilatation
11 3.3

An increase in size or amount

is specific to body structures becoming more open in medical use
widening
vsdilatation
3 2.7

A change that makes something wider, like a road or gap

is used mainly for body structures in medical or scientific contexts
distention
vsdilatation
  • Specialized
2 7.9

A swelling of a body part caused by pressure inside

refers to becoming more open rather than swelling from internal pressure
distension
vsdilatation
  • UK
1 8.9

A swelling or stretching of a part of the body, often the belly, caused by gas

refers to becoming more open rather than expansion from internal pressure

Antonyms

8 4.1

Becoming thinner or more limited in range

constriction
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A narrowing in a tube or pipe that reduces flow

How Wide

expansion
241 3.3
dilatation
  • Specialized
1 8.7
widening
3 2.7
distension
  • UK
1 8.9

Surface Forms

dilatation singular
dilatations plural

Morphology

dilatation = dilate (transparent) = dilat + ation

Learners who know the verb 'dilate' can readily infer 'dilatation' as the noun denoting the process or result formed by the productive suffix '-ation'.

Etymology

Dilatation comes from Latin parts di- meaning 'apart' and latus meaning 'wide', so it originally meant 'making wide'. So, dilatation is the process of something becoming 'wider' or more open, especially in the body.