Compress vs. Expand — What's the Difference?

Compress is a Unix shell compression program based on the LZW compression algorithm. Compared to more modern compression utilities such as gzip and bzip2, compress performs faster and with less memory usage, at the cost of a significantly lower compression ratio.

To increase the size, volume, quantity, or scope of; enlarge

To press together

To express at length or in detail; enlarge on

To make more compact by or as if by pressing.

To open (something) up or out; spread out

(Computers) To encode (data) to minimize the space required for storage or transmittal

(Mathematics) To write (a quantity) as a sum of terms in an extended form.

(Medicine) A soft pad of gauze or other material applied with pressure to a part of the body to control hemorrhage or to supply heat, cold, moisture, or medication to alleviate pain or reduce infection.

To become greater in size, volume, quantity, or scope

A machine for compressing material.

To speak or write at length or in detail

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

To open up or out; unfold

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

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

(transitive) To condense into a more economic, easier format.

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

(transitive) To abridge.

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

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

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

(obsolete) To embrace sexually.

To become, by rewriting, a longer, yet equivalent sum of terms.

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.

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

A machine for compressing.

(intransitive) To change or grow from smaller to larger in form, number, or size.

To press or squeeze together; to force into a narrower compass; to reduce the volume of by pressure; to compact; to condense; as, to compress air or water.

(intransitive) To increase in extent, number, volume or scope.

To embrace sexually.

(intransitive) To speak or write at length or in detail.

To reduce the space required for storage (of binary data) by an algorithm which converts the data to a smaller number of bits while preserving the information content. The compressed data is usually decompressed to recover the initial data format before subsequent use.

(intransitive) To feel generous or optimistic.

A folded piece of cloth, pledget of lint, etc., used to cover the dressing of wounds, and so placed as, by the aid of a bandage, to make due pressure on any part.

To lay open by extending; to open wide; to spread out; to diffuse; as, a flower expands its leaves.

A cloth pad or dressing (with or without medication) applied firmly to some part of the body (to relieve discomfort or reduce fever)

To cause the particles or parts of to spread themselves or stand apart, thus increasing bulk without addition of substance; to make to occupy more space; to dilate; to distend; to extend every way; to enlarge; - opposed to contract; as, to expand the chest; heat expands all bodies; to expand the sphere of benevolence.

Make more compact by or as if by pressing;

To state in enlarged form; to develop; as, to expand an equation. See Expansion, 5.

Squeeze or press together;

To become widely opened, spread apart, dilated, distended, or enlarged; as, flowers expand in the spring; metals expand by heat; the heart expands with joy.

Extend in one or more directions;

Become larger in size or volume or quantity;

Make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity;

Grow stronger;

Exaggerate or make bigger;

Add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing;

Expand the influence of;