expand the surface of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expand the surface of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are discussing increasing the area or extent of a particular surface, whether in a physical, metaphorical, or abstract sense. Example: "To improve the efficiency of the solar panels, we need to expand the surface of the collector to capture more sunlight."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Keep in mind that you can also expand the surface of the car with expandable spray foam or Bondo body-filler.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The arrangement expands the surface of the song as it contracts its meaning and saps its strength.

The New Yorker

The appeals court's requirement that it increase the zone to 2,200 yards, Chief Justice Roberts said, would "expand the surface area of the shutdown zone by a factor of over 100," given "the exponential relationship between radius length and surface area".

The New York Times

Between the lateral walls of the CP epithelial cells are complex interdigitations particularly apparent close to the blood side of the tissue laying on a basal lamina that demarcate the inner stroma of a highly vascularized connective tissue; these interdigitations expand the surface area of the CP [ 9].

Fluids and Barriers of the CNS

The inner mitochondrial membrane is compartmentalized into numerous cristae, which expand the surface area of the inner mitochondrial membrane, enhancing its ability to produce ATP.

Wikipedia

Actions that would expand the surface area of a liquid work against this tendency to minimize surface are therefore met with an opposing force, usually called surface tension.

Plosone

In brachyurans these setae are stiff and function to expand the surface area of the paddle during swimming [ 80].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

If the ER does not have enough capacity to fold all of the proteins that are delivered there, the UPR switches on to increase the protein folding capacity, to expand the surface area and volume of the compartment, and to degrade misfolded proteins.

eLife

This phase of RG division greatly expands the surface area of the cell layer lining the presumptive cerebral vesicle [9] and ultimately controls the total number of neurons in the mature cortex [10].

Plosone

While treatment with hydrazine expanded the surface area of the mildly oxidized sample, in the case of strongly oxidized graphite only surface chemistry was affected and a significant amount of nitrogen was introduced to it.

Carbon

The dendrite arbor greatly expands the surface area of each neuron and thereby increases the number of inputs it can receive.

Communicative and Integrative Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical objects or spaces, consider using "expand the surface of" to emphasize the increase in area. This phrase is particularly useful in scientific or technical contexts where precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "expand the surface of" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler terms like "enlarge" or "increase" are often more appropriate and natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expand the surface of" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of increasing the area or extent of a surface. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it is grammatically correct and is used to describe a process of enlargement.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "expand the surface of" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe the action of increasing the area or extent of something, primarily in scientific and technical domains. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is correct and appropriate for formal contexts. Although not very common, it serves to describe increasing area or expanse. When writing, remember that more straightforward words like “increase” or “enlarge” are preferred in less formal communication. Context matters, and the appropriate alternative phrases are "increase the area of", "enlarge the surface of" or "extend the area of" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enlarge the area of

Changes the verb to 'enlarge' and uses 'area' instead of 'surface'.

increase the expanse of

Replaces 'surface' with 'expanse' to denote a wide area.

extend the area of

Uses 'extend' to suggest making something longer or wider.

broaden the area of

Employs 'broaden' to imply making something wider.

magnify the extent of

Uses 'magnify' to suggest increasing the size or importance.

augment the size of

Substitutes 'expand' with 'augment' and 'surface' with 'size'.

widen the scope of

Shifts focus to a more abstract sense of increasing range or influence.

develop the reach of

Focuses on increasing the extent or range something covers.

amplify the scale of

Uses 'amplify' to indicate increasing the magnitude or effect.

inflate the dimensions of

Implies an artificial or exaggerated increase in size.

FAQs

How can I use "expand the surface of" in a sentence?

You can use "expand the surface of" when you want to describe something that is increasing its area. For example: "The inner mitochondrial membrane is compartmentalized into numerous cristae, which "expand the surface of the inner mitochondrial membrane, enhancing its ability to produce ATP."

What is a simpler way to say "expand the surface of"?

Alternatives include "increase the area of", "enlarge the surface of" or "extend the area of" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "increase the surface of" or "expand the surface of"?

"Increase the surface of" and "expand the surface of" are often interchangeable, but "expand" suggests a more deliberate or engineered increase, while "increase" is more general.

What does it mean to "expand the surface area of" something?

To "expand the surface area of" something means to increase the total area of its outer layer or boundary, often to enhance its functionality or capacity.