Display \Dis*play"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Displayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Displaying.]

[OE. displaien, desplaien, OF. despleier, desploier, F. d['e]ployer; pref. des- (L. dis-) + pleier, ploier, plier, F. ployer, plier, to fold, bend, L. plicare. See Ply, and cf. Deploy, Splay.]

1. To unfold; to spread wide; to expand; to stretch out; to spread.

The northern wind his wings did broad display. --Spenser.

2. (Mil.) To extend the front of (a column), bringing it into line. --Farrow.

3. To spread before the view; to show; to exhibit to the sight, or to the mind; to make manifest.

His statement . . . displays very clearly the actual condition of the army. --Burke.

4. To make an exhibition of; to set in view conspicuously or ostentatiously; to exhibit for the sake of publicity; to parade.

Proudly displaying the insignia of their order. --Prescott.

5. (Print.) To make conspicuous by large or prominent type.

6. To discover; to descry. [Obs.]

And from his seat took pleasure to display The city so adorned with towers. --Chapman.

Syn: To exhibit; show; manifest; spread out; parade; expand; flaunt.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)