1 the act or an instance of expanding; the state of being expanded.
2 enlargement of the scale or scope of (esp. commercial) operations.
3 increase in the amount of a State's territory or area of control.
4 an increase in the volume of fuel etc. on combustion in the cylinder of an engine.
Derivatives:
expansionary adj. expansionism n. expansionist n. expansionistic adj. (all in senses 2, 3).
Etymology: LL expansio (as EXPAND)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.