widen

From wide +‎ -en (verbal suffix).

• Rhymes: -aɪdən

widen (third-person singular simple present widens, present participle widening, simple past and past participle widened)

1. (intransitive) To become wide or wider.

   His eyes widened as her negligee fell to the floor.

2. (transitive) To make wide or wider.
   • 2011 September 29, Tom Rostance, “Stoke 2 - 1 Besiktas”, in BBC Sport‎:

     But he still saw his side produce a rousing display which owed much to their lauded prowess from set-pieces, despite Uefa regulations meaning the pitch had to be widened and, in the process, the run-up area for Delap's long throws reduced.

3. (transitive) To let out clothes to a larger size.

   She widened his trousers for him.

4. (transitive) To broaden or extend in scope or range.

   The police widened their enquiries.

• Edwin, Wendi, dwine, indew, winde, wined