extension

ex·ten·sion
E1X8T1E1N1S1I1O1N1
/ɪkˈstɛnʃən//ɛkˈstɛnʃən/

noun

The act of extending; a stretching out; enlargement in length, breadth, or time; an increase.

“Next month the house is undergoing an extension.”

Very commonScrabble 16

Meanings

nounextension (countable and uncountable, plural extensions)

plural extensions

  1. countableuncountableThe act of extending; a stretching out; enlargement in length, breadth, or time; an increase.

    Next month the house is undergoing an extension.

    2 more examples

    Due to the unforeseen circumstances, you are allowed an extension of two weeks to complete the task.

    "Keep off Conductor Rails" said red-painted notices at the platform ends, for third-rails were laid in many places even where electric trains never normally ran, and there had been many rumours of impending electrification of the Wirral, as a natural extension of the Mersey system, a quarter of a century before the change was actually made.

    1954 March, W. A. Tuplin, “Recollections of the Wirral Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 167
  2. countableuncountableThe state of being extended.

    For station is properly no rest, but one kind of motion, relating unto that which physicians (from Galen) do name extensive or tonical; that is, an extension of the muscles and organs of motion, maintaining the body at length, or in its proper figure.

    1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC
  3. countableuncountableThat property of a body by which it occupies a portion of space (or time, e.g. "spatiotemporal extension").
  4. countableuncountablegroup theoryA short exact sequence 1→H→E→G→1, or the group E therein.
  5. countableuncountablehomological algebramathematicsA short exact sequence 0→B→E→A→0, or the object E therein.
  6. countableuncountableA part of a building that has been added onto the original.
  7. countableuncountableAn outgrowth; a part of something that extends its capabilities.

    My research is an extension of the work of my mentor.

    2 more examples

    Parents who treat their children as an extension of themselves

    In smaller communities, the public schools are virtual extensions of each town's chief religion — "educating" kids to all the prejudices of that belief.

    1978 December 9, Mitzel, “Post-Briggs Blues”, in Gay Community News, volume 6, number 20, page 5
  8. countableuncountablehuman sciencesCapacity of a concept or general term to include a greater or smaller number of objects; — correlative of intension.

    Perversely, we love John Wick himself. That lethal, bereaved assassin is a good bad guy for our times, the natural extension of Tony Soprano, Walter White and all the other heroic antiheroes the culture has embraced.

    2023 March 14, Caryn James, “John Wick: Chapter 4: 'Soars above most action films'”, in BBC
    1 more example

    In addition to concepts and conceptual senses, Frege holds that there are extensions of concepts. Frege calls an extension of a concept a ‘course of values’. A course of values is determined by the value that the concept has for each of its arguments. Thus, the course of values for the concept __ is a dog records that its value for the argument Zermela is the True and for Socrates is the False, and so on. If two concepts have the same values for every argument, then their courses of values are the same. Thus, courses of values are extensional.

    2011 July 20, Edwin Mares, “Propositional Functions”, in The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, retrieved 15 Jul 2012
  9. countableuncountablehuman sciencesSemantic widening, broadening of meaning.
  10. countableuncountablebankingA written engagement on the part of a creditor, allowing a debtor further time to pay a debt.
  11. countableuncountablemedicineThe operation of stretching a broken bone so as to bring the fragments into the same straight line.
  12. countableuncountablehobbiesAn exercise in which an arm or leg is straightened against resistance.
  13. countableuncountablefencingA simple offensive action, consisting of extending the weapon arm forward.
  14. countableuncountablecommunicationsA numerical code used to indicate a specific telephone in a telecommunication network.
  15. abbreviationcountableellipsisuncountablecomputingEllipsis of file extension.

    Files with the .txt extension usually contain text.

    1 more example

    If you plan to plot data with error bars, you must name them with an. ERR extension. Failure to do so will crash the system, and you will lose your precious work.

    1989, PC Mag, volume 8, number 5, page 276
  16. countableuncountablecomputingAn optional software component that adds functionality to an application.

    a browser extension

    1 more example

    Near-synonym: plugin

  17. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe set of tuples of values that, used as arguments, satisfy the predicate.
  18. countableuncountablegrammarA kind of derivative morpheme applied to verbs in Bantu languages.
  19. countableuncountablering theoryThe ideal in the codomain generated by the image of the given ideal under the given homomorphism.
  20. countableuncountableeducationUniversity programs that are targeted at the broader (usually adults) community whose participants are not full-time enrolled students.
  21. abbreviationclippingcountablein pluraluncountablecosmeticsClipping of hair extension, nail extension, or eyelash extension.
  22. PhilippinesabbreviationcountableellipsisuncountablebusinessEllipsis of extension cord.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar

antonym(s) of “act of extending”

Opposite

antonym(s) of “broadening of meaning”

Opposite

antonym(s) of “exercise”

Opposite

nounthe spreading of something (a belief or practice) into new regions

Broader
disseminationairingpublic exposure

nounan educational opportunity provided by colleges and universities to people who are not enrolled as regular students

Similar
extension serviceuniversity extension

nounact of stretching or straightening out a flexed limb

Opposite
Broader

nouna string of characters beginning with a period and followed by one or more letters; the optional second part of a PC computer filename

Similar
filename extensionfile name extension
Broader

nounthe most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression; the class of objects that an expression refers to

nounamount or degree or range to which something extends

Broader

nounan additional telephone set that is connected to the same telephone line

Similar
telephone extensionextension phone
Broader
telephonephonetelephone set

nounan addition to the length of something

Similar

nounan addition that extends a main building

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinextensiō, extensiōnem
  2. Old Frenchestension
  3. Middle Englishextensioun
  4. Englishextension

From Middle English extensioun, from Old French estension, from Latin extensiō, extensiōnem.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic تَمْدِيد
  • تَمْدِيد (tamdīd)weightlifting: an exercise
Bulgarian протягане, разтягане
  • протягане (protjagane)act of extending or the state of being extended
  • разтягане (raztjagane)act of extending or the state of being extended
  • отсрочка (otsročka)finance: written engagement on the part of a creditor
  • екстензия (ekstenzija)medicine: operation of stretching a broken bone
  • междуградска (meždugradska)telecommunication: phone extension number
Catalan extensió
  • extensióact of extending or the state of being extended
Chinese Mandarin 擴展名 /扩展名
  • 擴展名 /扩展名 (kuòzhǎnmíng)computing: file extension
Czech extenze, přípona
  • extenzesemantics: capacity of a concept or general term to include a greater or smaller number of objects
  • příponacomputing: optional software component
Danish forlængelse
  • forlængelseact of extending or the state of being extended
Dutch uitbreiding, extensie
  • uitbreidingact of extending or the state of being extended
  • extensieact of extending or the state of being extended
  • extensieanatomy: that property of a body by which it occupies a portion of space
  • verlengingmedicine: operation of stretching a broken bone
  • toestelnummertelecommunication: phone extension number
  • toesteltelecommunication: phone extension number
  • achtervoegselcomputing: file extension
  • extensiecomputing: file extension
  • extensiecomputing: optional software component
Finnish laajennus, laajentaminen
  • laajennusact of extending or the state of being extended
  • laajentaminenact of extending or the state of being extended
  • ekstensioact of extending or the state of being extended
  • ojennusact of extending or the state of being extended
  • laajuusanatomy: that property of a body by which it occupies a portion of space
  • ulottuvuusanatomy: that property of a body by which it occupies a portion of space
  • laajennuspart of a building that has been added to the original
  • ekstensiosemantics: capacity of a concept or general term to include a greater or smaller number of objects
  • pidennysfinance: written engagement on the part of a creditor
  • pidennysmedicine: operation of stretching a broken bone
  • ojennusweightlifting: an exercise
  • ojentaminenweightlifting: an exercise
French extension, extension
  • extensionact of extending or the state of being extended
  • extensioncomputing: file extension
  • extensioncomputing: optional software component
German Ausdehnung, Erweiterung
  • Ausdehnungact of extending or the state of being extended
  • Erweiterungact of extending or the state of being extended
  • Ausdehnunganatomy: that property of a body by which it occupies a portion of space
  • Ausdehnungsemantics: capacity of a concept or general term to include a greater or smaller number of objects
  • Bedeutungserweiterungsemantics: semantic widening
  • Verlängerungfinance: written engagement on the part of a creditor
  • Streckenweightlifting: an exercise
  • Durchwahltelecommunication: phone extension number
Greek επέκταση, παράταση
  • επέκταση (epéktasi)act of extending or the state of being extended
  • παράταση (parátasi)act of extending or the state of being extended
  • παράταση (parátasi)finance: written engagement on the part of a creditor
Hungarian nyújtás, kinyújtás
  • nyújtásact of extending or the state of being extended
  • kinyújtásact of extending or the state of being extended
  • tágításact of extending or the state of being extended
  • kitágításact of extending or the state of being extended
  • nyúlásact of extending or the state of being extended
  • megnyúlásact of extending or the state of being extended
  • tágulásact of extending or the state of being extended
  • kitágulásact of extending or the state of being extended
  • nyújtásanatomy: that property of a body by which it occupies a portion of space
  • feszítésanatomy: that property of a body by which it occupies a portion of space
  • toldaléképületpart of a building that has been added to the original
  • hozzátoldott épületrészpart of a building that has been added to the original
Icelandic lenging
  • lengingact of extending or the state of being extended
Indonesian ekstensi, ekstensi
  • ekstensianatomy: that property of a body by which it occupies a portion of space
  • ekstensisemantics: capacity of a concept or general term to include a greater or smaller number of objects
  • ekstensimedicine: operation of stretching a broken bone
  • ekstensitelecommunication: phone extension number
  • ekstensicomputing: file extension
Irish fadú, folíne
  • fadúact of extending or the state of being extended
  • folínetelecommunication: phone extension number
Italian proroga, estemsione
  • prorogaact of extending or the state of being extended
  • estemsioneact of extending or the state of being extended
  • estensioneact of extending or the state of being extended
Japanese 拡張, 拡大
  • 拡張 (kakuchō)act of extending or the state of being extended
  • 拡大 (kakudai)act of extending or the state of being extended
  • 伸展 (shinten)act of extending or the state of being extended
  • 延長 (enchō)act of extending or the state of being extended
  • 伸展 (shinten)anatomy: that property of a body by which it occupies a portion of space
  • 範囲 (han'i)semantics: capacity of a concept or general term to include a greater or smaller number of objects
  • 限度 (gendo)semantics: capacity of a concept or general term to include a greater or smaller number of objects
  • 拡張 (kakuchō)semantics: semantic widening
  • 展開 (tenkai)semantics: semantic widening
  • 敷衍 (fuen)semantics: semantic widening
  • 猶予 (yūyo)finance: written engagement on the part of a creditor
  • 延期 (enki)finance: written engagement on the part of a creditor
Korean 내선
  • 내선 (naeseon)telecommunication: phone extension number
Latvian atliekšana, paplašinājums
  • atliekšanaweightlifting: an exercise
  • paplašinājumscomputing: file extension
Malay sambungan
  • sambungantelecommunication: phone extension number
Māori torohanga, āpititanga
  • torohangaact of extending or the state of being extended
  • āpititangapart of a building that has been added to the original
  • whārōngacomputing: file extension
Norwegian Bokmål utviding, utvidelse
  • utvidingact of extending or the state of being extended
  • utvidelseact of extending or the state of being extended
  • forlengelseact of extending or the state of being extended
  • forlengingact of extending or the state of being extended
Persian گستردن, گسترده شدن
  • گستردن (gostardan)act of extending or the state of being extended
  • گسترده شدنact of extending or the state of being extended
Polish rozszerzenie, rozciągłość
  • rozszerzenieact of extending or the state of being extended
  • rozciągłośćanatomy: that property of a body by which it occupies a portion of space
  • rozszerzeniecomputing: optional software component
Portuguese extensão, extensão
  • extensãoact of extending or the state of being extended
  • extensãotelecommunication: phone extension number
  • extensãocomputing: file extension
  • extensãocomputing: optional software component
Romanian extindere, extensiune
  • extindereact of extending or the state of being extended
  • extensiuneact of extending or the state of being extended
  • întindereanatomy: that property of a body by which it occupies a portion of space
  • extensieweightlifting: an exercise
  • extensie de fișiercomputing: file extension
Russian расшире́ние, продле́ние
  • расшире́ние (rasširénije)act of extending or the state of being extended
  • продле́ние (prodlénije)act of extending or the state of being extended
  • пристро́йка (pristrójka)part of a building that has been added to the original
  • разгиба́ние (razgibánije)weightlifting: an exercise
  • расшире́ние (rasširénije)computing: file extension
Scottish Gaelic leudachadh
  • leudachadhact of extending or the state of being extended
Spanish extensión, extendimiento
  • extensiónact of extending or the state of being extended
  • extendimientoact of extending or the state of being extended
Swedish förlängning, tillägg
  • förlängningact of extending or the state of being extended
  • tilläggcomputing: optional software component
Tamil விரிவாக்கம், நீட்டிப்பு
  • விரிவாக்கம் (virivākkam)act of extending or the state of being extended
  • நீட்டிப்பு (nīṭṭippu)act of extending or the state of being extended
Turkish uzatma, teşmil
  • uzatmaact of extending or the state of being extended
  • teşmilact of extending or the state of being extended
  • teşmilsemantics: capacity of a concept or general term to include a greater or smaller number of objects
  • teşmilsemantics: semantic widening
Vietnamese sự mở rộng, đuôi
  • sự mở rộngact of extending or the state of being extended
  • đuôicomputing: file extension
  • phần mở rộngcomputing: file extension
  • phần mở rộngcomputing: optional software component
  • tiện ích mở rộngcomputing: optional software component
Cite this entry
APA

extension. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/extension

MLA

“extension.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/extension. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “extension,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/extension.

Source: extension on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.