extension

Universal Words noun increasing influence 1 [U,C] ~ (of sth) the act of increasing the area of activity, group of people, etc. that is affected by sth: the extension of new technology into developing countries * a gradual extension of the powers of central government * The bank plans various extensions to its credit facilities. * My home life was becoming no more than an extension of my job. of building 2 [C] ~ (to sth) (BrE) (AmE addition) a new room or rooms that are added to a house 3 [C] a new part that is added to a building: a planned two-storey extension to the hospital extra time 4 [C] ~ (of sth) an extra period of time allowed for sth: He's been granted an extension of the contract for another year. * a visa extension * (BrE) The pub had an extension (= was allowed to stay open longer) on Christmas Eve. * She was given an extension to finish writing her thesis. telephone 5 [C] (abbreviation ext.) an extra telephone line connected to a central telephone in a house or to a SWITCHBOARD in a large building. In a large building, each extension usually has its own number: We have an extension in the bedroom. * What's your extension number? * Can I have extension 4332 please? making sth larger 6 [U,C] the act of making sth longer or larger; the thing that is made longer and larger: The extension of the subway will take several months. * extensions to the original railway track * hair extensions (= pieces of artificial hair that are added to your hair to make it longer) college / university 7 [C] (AmE) a part of a college or university that offers courses to students who are not studying FULL-TIME; a programme of study for these students: La Salle Extension University * extension courses computing 8 the set of three letters that are placed after a dot at the end of the name of a file and that show what type of file it is: The extension.doc indicates a word-processing file. electrical 9 [C] (BrE) = EXTENSIONLEAD IDIOMS by extension (formal) taking the argument or situation one stage further: The blame lies with the teachers and, by extension, with the Education Service.