The difference between Compress and Expand

When used as verbs, compress means to make smaller, whereas expand means to change (something) from a smaller form and/or size to a larger one.

Compress is also noun with the meaning: a multiply folded piece of cloth, a pouch of ice etc., used to apply to a patient's skin, cover the dressing of wounds, and placed with the aid of a bandage to apply pressure on an injury.

check bellow for the other definitions of Compress and Expand

  1. Compress as a verb (transitive):

    To make smaller; to press or squeeze together, or to make something occupy a smaller space or volume.

    Examples:

    "The force required to compress a spring varies linearly with the displacement."

  2. Compress as a verb (intransitive):

    To be pressed together or folded by compression into a more economic, easier format.

    Examples:

    "Our new model compresses easily, ideal for storage and travel"

  3. Compress as a verb (transitive):

    To condense into a more economic, easier format.

    Examples:

    "This chart compresses the entire audit report into a few lines on a single diagram."

  4. Compress as a verb (transitive):

    To abridge.

    Examples:

    "If you try to compress the entire book into a three-sentence summary, you will lose a lot of information."

  5. Compress as a verb (technology, transitive):

    To make digital information smaller by encoding it using fewer bits.

  6. Compress as a verb (obsolete):

    To embrace sexually.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Alexander Pope"

  1. Compress as a noun:

    A multiply folded piece of cloth, a pouch of ice etc., used to apply to a patient's skin, cover the dressing of wounds, and placed with the aid of a bandage to apply pressure on an injury.

    Examples:

    "He held a cold compress over the sprain."

  2. Compress as a noun:

    A machine for compressing

  1. Expand as a verb (transitive):

    To change (something) from a smaller form and/or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open.

    Examples:

    "You can expand this compact umbrella to cover a large table."

  2. Expand as a verb (transitive):

    To increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something).

    Examples:

    "A flower expands its leaves."

  3. Expand as a verb (transitive):

    To express (something) at length and/or in detail.

  4. Expand as a verb (transitive, algebra):

    To rewrite (an expression) as a longer, yet equivalent sum of terms.

    Examples:

    "Use the binomial theorem to expand (x+1)<sup>4</sup> to x<sup>4</sup> + 4x<sup>3</sup> + 6x<sup>2</sup> + 4x + 1."

  5. Expand as a verb (transitive, arithmetic):

    To multiply both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same natural number yielding a fraction of equal value

  6. Expand as a verb (intransitive):

    To change from a smaller form/size to a larger one.

    Examples:

    "Many materials expand when heated."

    "This compact umbrella expands to cover a large table."

  7. Expand as a verb (intransitive):

    To increase in extent, number, volume or scope.

  8. Expand as a verb (intransitive):

    To speak or write at length or in detail.

    Examples:

    "He expanded on his plans for the business."

  9. Expand as a verb (intransitive):

    To feel generous or optimistic.

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