| 释义 |
expansible, a.|ɛkˈspænsɪb(ə)l|
[as if ad. L. *expansibil-is, f. expans- ppl. stem of expandĕre: see expand and -ible. Cf. Fr. expansible.]
That can be expanded.
1. That can be opened or spread out.
1730–6in Bailey (folio). 1876Bartholow Mat. Med. (1879) 89 An intra-uterine speculum with expansible blades.
2. That can be made to occupy or contain a larger space; esp. of material substances, capable of expansion by heat, etc.
a1691Boyle Hist. Air ii. (1692) 5 Readily expansible..by Heat. 1792Phil. Trans. LXXXII. 401 Whenever water is in a state of evaporation, an expansible fluid, composed of water and fire, is produced. 1812Sir H. Davy Chem. Philos. 70 Glass is less expansible than any of the metals. 1871B. Stewart Heat §80 The most expansible metal will form the outside or convex surface of the curve, and the least expansible the concave.
b. Of an immaterial object: Capable of being enlarged in scope or operation.
1850De Quincey in H. A. Page Life (1877) II. xvii. 73 The great moving and expansible system of theology. 1884Sir N. Lindley in Law Times Rep. 9 Feb. 727/2 A market..limited by metes and bounds, so as not to be expansible.
Hence exˈpansibleness, the quality of being expansible; expansibility. exˈpansibly adv., in an expansible manner; so as to be expanded.
1847in Craig; and in mod. Dicts. |