different between thrive vs expand

English

Etymology

From Middle English thryven, thriven, from Old Norse þrífa (“to seize, grasp, take hold, prosper”) (Swedish trivas), from Proto-Germanic *þr?ban? (“to seize, prosper”), from Proto-Indo-European *trep-, *terp- (“to satisfy, enjoy”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??a?v/

• Rhymes: -a?v

Verb

thrive (third-person singular simple present thrives, present participle thriving, simple past throve or thrived, past participle thriven or thrived)

1. To grow or increase stature; to grow vigorously or luxuriantly, to flourish.

   Not all animals thrive well in captivity.

   to thrive upon hard work

   • 1819, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe, Chapter 16,^[1]

     “It seems to me, reverend father,” said the knight, “that the small morsels which you eat, together with this holy, but somewhat thin beverage, have thriven with you marvellously.”

   • 1855, Robert Browning, “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came”, X:

     So, on I went. I think I never saw / Such starved ignoble nature; nothing throve: / For flowers - as well expect a cedar grove!

   • 1941, Emily Carr, Klee Wyck, Chapter 3,^[2]

     The growing things jumbled themselves together into a dense thicket; so tensely earnest were things about growing in Skedans that everything linked with everything else, hurrying to grow to the limit of its own capacity; weeds and weaklings alike throve in the rich moistness.

2. To increase in wealth or success; to prosper, be profitable.

   Since expanding in June, the business has really thrived.

   • 1596-97, William Shakespeare, The Merchant Of Venice, Act II Scene 7

     [...] Deliver me the key.

     Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may!

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:prosper

Translations

Anagrams

• riveth

English

Etymology

Recorded in Middle English since 1422 (as expanden, expaunden), from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandere present active infinitive of expand? (“to spread out”), itself from ex- (“out, outwards”) + pand? (“to spread”). Doublet of spawn.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ænd
• IPA^(key): /?k?spænd/

Verb

expand (third-person singular simple present expands, present participle expanding, simple past and past participle expanded)

1. (transitive) To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open.

2. (transitive) To increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something).
3. (transitive) To express (something) at length and/or in detail.
4. (transitive, algebra) To rewrite (an expression) as a longer, yet equivalent sum of terms.

5. (intransitive, algebra, of an expression) To become, by rewriting, a longer, yet equivalent sum of terms.

6. (transitive, arithmetic) To multiply both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same natural number yielding a fraction of equal value
7. (intransitive) To change or grow from smaller to larger in form, number, or size.

8. (intransitive) To increase in extent, number, volume or scope.
9. (intransitive) To speak or write at length or in detail.
10. (intransitive) To feel generous or optimistic.

Synonyms

• (to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one): open out, spread, spread out, unfold
• (to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of): enlarge
• (to express at length or in detail): elaborate (on), expand on

Antonyms

• (to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one): contract
• (to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of): contract
• (algebra: to rewrite as an equivalent sum of terms): factor

Derived terms

• expandable
• expander

Related terms

• expanse
• expansible
• expansile
• expansive
• expansion
• expansionism

Translations