HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY
To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.
Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.
THE USAGE PANEL
The Usage Panel is a group of nearly 200 prominent scholars, creative writers, journalists, diplomats, and others in occupations requiring mastery of language. Annual surveys have gauged the acceptability of particular usages and grammatical constructions.
AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP
The new American Heritage Dictionary app is now available for iOS and Android.
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG
The articles in our blog examine new words, revised definitions, interesting images from the fifth edition, discussions of usage, and more.
INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?
Check out the Dictionary Society of North America at http://www.dictionarysociety.com
v. ex·tend·ed, ex·tend·ing, ex·tends v.tr. 1. a. To cause (something) to be longer, wider, or cover more area: extended the subway line into the next town. b. To enlarge the scope or effect of: research that extended our knowledge of the universe. c. To cause (something) to last longer: extended our visit by a day. d. To prolong the time allowed for payment of: extend a loan for three more months. e. To put off; postpone: extended the deadline by a week. 2. a. To present; offer: extend one's greetings. b. To make available; provide: extend credit to qualified purchasers. 3. To open or straighten (something) out; unbend: extended the legs of the folding table. 4. To increase in quantity or bulk by adding a cheaper substance: used rice or pasta to extend leftover casseroles. 5. a. To exert (oneself) vigorously or to full capacity: Few mountain climbers have extended themselves as those two have. b. To cause to move at full gallop. Used of a horse. 6. Chiefly British a. To appraise or assess; value. b. To seize or make a levy on for the purpose of settling a debt. v.intr. To be or become long, large, or comprehensive: influence that extended to other continents; table legs that extend by unscrewing. [Middle English extenden, from Old French extendre, from Latin extendere : ex-, ex- + tendere, to stretch; see ten- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] ex·tend′a·bili·ty, ex·tend′i·bili·ty n. ex·tenda·ble, ex·tendi·ble adj. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
