extend

[ik-stend] /ɪkˈstɛnd/
verb (used with object)
1.
to stretch out; draw out to the full length:
He extended the measuring tape as far as it would go.
2.
to stretch, draw, or arrange in a given direction, or so as to reach a particular point, as a cord, wall, or line of troops.
3.
to stretch forth or hold out, as the arm or hand:
to extend one's hand in greeting.
4.
to place at full length, especially horizontally, as the body or limbs.
5.
to increase the length or duration of; lengthen; prolong:
to extend a visit.
6.
to stretch out in various or all directions; expand; spread out in area:
A huge tent was extended over the field.
7.
to enlarge the scope of, or make more comprehensive, as operations, influence, or meaning:
The European powers extended their authority in Asia.
8.
to provide as an offer or grant; offer; grant; give:
to extend aid to needy scholars.
9.
Finance. to postpone (the payment of a debt) beyond the time originally agreed upon.
10.
to increase the bulk or volume of, especially by adding an inexpensive or plentiful substance.
11.
Bookkeeping. to transfer (figures) from one column to another.
12.
Law.
  1. British. to assess or value.
  2. to make a seizure or levy upon, as land, by a writ of extent.
13.
Manège. to bring (a horse) into an extended attitude.
14.
to exert (oneself) to an unusual degree.
15.
Archaic. to exaggerate.
16.
Obsolete. to take by seizure.
verb (used without object)
17.
to be or become extended; stretch out in length, duration, or in various or all directions.
18.
to reach, as to a particular point.
19.
to increase in length, area, scope, etc.
20.
Manège. (of a horse) to come into an extended attitude.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English extenden < Latin extendere to stretch out. See ex-1, tend1
Related forms
extendible, extendable, adjective
extendibility, extendability, noun
nonextendible, adjective
nonextendibleness, noun
preextend, verb
superextend, verb
unextendable, adjective
unextendible, adjective
Synonyms
5. continue. See lengthen. 6. enlarge; widen, dilate. 8. bestow, impart.
Antonyms
1. shorten, contract.
Examples from the web for extend
  • Lights suspended above the tanks extend daylight hours in fall and spring to keep the fish feeding longer and growing faster.
  • Twenty-nine universities across the country have started a project to extend their high-speed networks to surrounding communities.
  • For the first time one of their number had consented to reduce his authority, rather than extend it.
  • Mounting research shows that optimism could extend your life.
  • The question is whether it also functions in people-and might be manipulated to extend human life.
  • Start with the plants, then pick your containers that will extend the color theme.
  • The task of government is to extend the tenure of settlement as long as possible.
  • Moreover, this disparate impact is likely to extend far into the future.
  • Another would extend a subsidy for health insurance for those who lose it along with their jobs.
  • Cloning success in animals doesn't extend to humans.
British Dictionary definitions for extend

extend

/ɪkˈstɛnd/
verb
1.
to draw out or be drawn out; stretch
2.
to last for a certain time: his schooling extended for three years
3.
(intransitive) to reach a certain point in time or distance: the land extends five miles
4.
(intransitive) to exist or occur: the trees extended throughout the area
5.
(transitive) to increase (a building, etc) in size or area; add to or enlarge
6.
(transitive) to broaden the meaning or scope of: the law was extended
7.
(transitive) to put forth, present, or offer: to extend greetings
8.
to stretch forth (an arm, etc)
9.
(transitive) to lay out (a body) at full length
10.
(transitive) to strain or exert (a person or animal) to the maximum
11.
(transitive) to prolong (the time originally set) for payment of (a debt or loan), completion of (a task), etc
12.
(transitive) (accounting)
  1. to carry forward
  2. to calculate the amount of (a total, balance, etc)
13.
(transitive) (law) (formerly in England) to value or assess (land)
Derived Forms
extendible, extendable, adjective
extendibility, extendability, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Latin extendere to stretch out, from tendere to stretch
Word Origin and History for extend
v.

early 14c., "to value, assess;" late 14c. "to stretch out, lengthen," from Anglo-French estendre (late 13c.), Old French estendre "stretch out, extend, increase," from Latin extendere "stretch out," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + tendere "to stretch" (see tenet). Related: Extended; extending.

extend in Medicine

extend ex·tend (ĭk-stěnd')
v. ex·tend·ed, ex·tend·ing, ex·tends
To straighten a limb; unbend.

extend in Technology

programming
To add features to a program, especially through the use of hooks.
"Extend" is very often used in the phrase "extend the functionality of a program."
Plug-ins are one form of extension.
(1997-06-21)