extend

Universal Words verb 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