Chapter Exody to Expansion of E by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Expanse
(Ex*panse") n. [From L. expansus, p. p. of expandere. See Expand.] That which is expanded or spread out; a wide extent of space or body; especially, the arch of the sky. "The green expanse." Savage.

Lights . . . high in the expanse of heaven.

Milton.

The smooth expanse of crystal lakes.

Pope.

Expanse
(Ex*panse"), v. t. To expand. [Obs.]

That lies expansed unto the eyes of all.

Sir. T. Browne.

Expansibility
(Ex*pan`si*bil"i*ty) n. The capacity of being expanded; as, the expansibility of air.

Expansible
(Ex*pan"si*ble) a. [Cf. F. expansible.] Capable of being expanded or spread out widely.

Bodies are not expansible in proportion to their weight.

Grew.

— Ex*pan"si*ble*ness ,n. - Ex*pan"si*bly ,adv.

Expansile
(Ex*pan"sile) a. Expansible.

Ether and alcohol are more expansile than water.

Brande & C.

Expansion
(Ex*pan"sion) n. [L. expansio: cf. F. expansion.]

1. The act of expanding or spreading out; the condition of being expanded; dilation; enlargement.

2. That which is expanded; expanse; extend surface; as, the expansion of a sheet or of a lake; the expansion was formed of metal.

The starred expansion of the skies.

Beattie.

3. Space through which anything is expanded; also, pure space.

Lost in expansion, void and infinite.

Blackmore.

4. (Com.) Enlargement or extension of business transactions; esp., increase of the circulation of bank notes.

5. (Math.) The developed result of an indicated operation; as, the expansion of (a + b)² is a² + 2ab + b².

6. (Steam Engine) 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. (Nav. Arch.) The enlargement of the ship mathematically from a model or drawing to the full or building size, in the process of construction. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Expansion is also used adjectively, as in expansion joint, expansion gear, etc.

Expansion curve, a curve the coördinates of which show the relation between the pressure and volume of expanding gas or vapor; esp. (Steam engine), that part of an indicator diagram which shows the declining pressure of the steam as it expands in the cylinder. — Expansion gear (Steam Engine). a cut-off gear. See Illust. of Link motion. — Automatic expansion gearor cut-off, one that is regulated by the governor, and varies the supply of steam to the engine with the demand for power. — Fixed expansion gear, or Fixed cut-off, one that always operates at the same fixed point of the stroke.