1. (n.) The act spreading out; enlargement; increase of area\.
2. (n.) That which is expanded; expanse; extend surface; as, the expansion of a sheet or of a lake; the expansion was formed of metal.
3. (n.) Space through which anything is expanded; also, pure space.
4. (n.) Enlargement or extension of business transactions; esp., increase of the circulation of bank notes.
5. (n.) The developed result of an indicated operation; as, the expansion of (a + b)2 is a2 + 2ab + b2.
6. (n.) The operation of steam in a cylinder after its communication with the boiler has been cut off, by which it continues to exert pressure upon the moving piston.
7. (n.) The enlargement of the ship mathematically from a model or drawing to the full or building size, in the process of construction.