make longer / larger / wider
1 [VN] to make sth longer or larger:
to extend a fence / road / house * There are plans to extend the no-smoking area.
2 [VN] to make sth last longer:
to extend a deadline / visa * The show has been extended for another six weeks. * Careful maintenance can extend the life of your car by several years.
3 [VN] to make a business, an idea, an influence, etc. cover more areas or operate in more places:
The company plans to extend its operations into Europe. * The school is extending the range of subjects taught.
include
4 [V+adv./prep.] to relate to or include sb/sth:
The offer does not extend to employees' partners. * His willingness to help did not extend beyond making a few phone calls.
cover area / time / distance
5 [V+adv./prep.] to cover a particular area, distance or length of time:
Our land extends as far as the river. * His writing career extended over a period of 40 years.
6 [VN+adv./prep.] to make sth reach sth or stretch:
to extend a rope between two posts
part of body
7 [VN] to stretch part of your body, especially an arm or a leg, away from yourself:
He extended his hand to (= offered to shake hands with) the new employee. * (figurative) to extend the hand of friendship to (= try to have good relations with) another country
offer / give
8 [VN] ~ sth to sb (formal) to offer or give sth to sb:
I'm sure you will join me in extending a very warm welcome to our visitors. * to extend hospitality to overseas students * to extend an invitation * The bank refused to extend credit to them (= to lend them money). [also VNN]
use effort / ability
9 [VN] [oftenpassive] to make sb/sth use all their effort, abilities, supplies, etc:
Jim didn't really have to extend himself in the exam. * Hospitals were already fully extended because of the epidemic.
seealsoEXTENSION, EXTENSIVE
