dilatar

to dilate

to expand

dilatar(dee-lah-tahr)

transitive verb

1. (to enlarge)

a. to dilate

La oftalmóloga tiene que dilatar las pupilas del paciente.

The ophthalmologist has to dilate the patient's pupils.

b. to expand (due to heat)

El calor dilata el líquido, haciendo que aparezcan burbujas.

Heat expands the liquid, causing bubbles to appear.

2. (to protract)

a. to prolong

Decidimos sacrificar al perro para no dilatar su sufrimiento.

We decided to have the dog put to sleep rather than prolong his suffering.

3. (to defer)

a. to postpone

Los amigos dilataron la cena al martes para que Sandra pudiera asistir.

The friends postponed the dinner till Tuesday so that Sandra could come.

b. to delay

El director de la escuela dilató la reunión al día siguiente.

The school principal delayed the meeting till the following day.

c. to put off

Será necesario aumentar nuestros precios y va a ser difícil dilatarlo por más tiempo.

We will need to increase our prices and it will be difficult to put it off for much longer.

dilatarse

pronominal verb

4. (to get bigger)

a. to dilate

El ginecólogo dijo que el cuello del útero se había dilatado tres centímetros.

The gynecologist said the cervix had dilated three centimeters.

b. to expand

El pavimento se dilata y se contrae con el calor y el frío, lo que hace que se agrieta.

The road surface expands and contracts with heat and cold, causing it to crack.

5. (to be extended)

a. to be prolonged

La huelga se dilató porque no se podía llegar a un acuerdo.

The strike was prolonged because no agreement could be reached.

b. to go on

La espera se dilató más de lo esperado y el público empezó a inquietarse.

The wait went on for longer than expected and the audience started to get anxious.

6. (to be deferred)

a. to be delayed

El vuelo se tuvo que dilatar al día siguiente por culpa del tiempo.

The flight was delayed until the following day because of the weather.

b. to be postponed

La reunión se dilatará a la semana siguiente para que pueda asistir todo el mundo.

The meeting will be postponed till next week so that everyone can attend.

c. to be put off

El lanzamiento del nuevo álbum del artista se dilató hasta junio.

The release of the artist's new album was put off until June.

7. (to be dilatory)

(Central America)

(Mexico)

(Venezuela)

a. to be slow

Martín y Juan se dilatan mucho en arreglarse.

Martin and Juan are very slow to get ready.

b. to take a long time

Los jueces se dilataron en decidirse por un ganador.

The judges took a long time to decide on a winner.

8. (to be unpunctual)

(Central America)

(Mexico)

(Venezuela)

a. to be late

María siempre se dilata en llegar a los sitios.

Maria is always late when she goes anywhere.

dilatar

transitive verb

1. (sólido, gas)

a. to expand

2. (pupila, cuello del útero)

a. to dilate

el calor dilata los cuerposheat causes bodies to expand

3. (prolongar)

a. to prolong

4. (demorar)

a. to delay

pronominal verb

5. (extenderse)

a. to expand

6. (pupila, cuello de útero)

a. to dilate

los cuerpos se dilatan con el calorbodies expand when heated

7. (prolongarse)

a. to be prolonged, to go on

la reunión se dilató hasta el amanecerthe meeting went on until dawn

8. (demorarse)

a. to be delayed

Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited

dilatar

transitive verb

1 (extender) [+pupila] to dilate; [+metales] to expand

2 [+fama] to spread

3 (prolongar) to protract; prolong

4 (retrasar) to delay

pronominal verb

dilatarse

1 (extenderse) [+pupila] to dilate; [+cuerpo, metal] to expand

la llanura se dilata hasta el horizonte the plain stretches right to the horizon; el valle se dilata en aquella parte the valley spreads out o widens at that point

2 (al hablar) to be long-winded

3 (Latinoamérica) (tardar)

to take a long time

dilatarse en hacer algo to take a long time to do sth; be slow to do sth

4 (Centroamérica) (México) (retrasarse) to be delayed; be late