ex‧pan‧sion W3 AC / ɪkspænʃ ə n / 名词

1 [可数和不可数名词] when something increases in size, range, amount etc 同义词 growth → expand

expansion of

The rapid expansion of cities can cause social and economic problems.

expansion in

an expansion in student numbers

2 [可数和不可数名词] when a company, business etc becomes larger by opening new shops, factories etc → expand :

The industry underwent a period of rapid expansion .

3 [可数名词] an idea, story etc that is based on one that is simpler or more general :

The novel is an expansion of a short story he wrote about forty years ago.

COLLOCATIONS

ADJECTIVES/NOUN + expansion

a big expansion Last year saw a big expansion at the company.

a great/huge/massive expansion (= very big ) There are plans for a massive expansion of the oil and gas industries.

a major/significant expansion (= large and important ) The company is planning a major expansion of its retail outlets.

a rapid expansion During the 1990s, there was a rapid expansion in student numbers.

a steady expansion There has been a steady expansion of the self-employed sector of the economy.

further expansion Investors think the hotel chain is ripe for further expansion.

economic expansion Economic expansion in India and China is set to continue.

business/commercial expansion These new measures could limit business expansion.

urban expansion We are seeing uncontrolled urban expansion in many African cities.

动词

expansion takes place ( also expansion occurs formal ) The biggest expansion occurred in the volume of small issue government bonds.

expansion + NOUN

an expansion plan The city’s ambitious expansion plans will require major investment.

an expansion programme Such an aggressive expansion programme could double the business in five years.