What is "widening"

Widen \Wid"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Widened; p. pr. & vb. n. Widening.] To make wide or wider; to extend in breadth; to increase the width of; as, to widen a field; to widen a breach; to widen a stocking.

1. 1 Of things that are growing wider. 2 Of things that are separate, with increasing separation. n. The action of the verb widen. v

2. (present participle of widen English)

1. n. an increase in width [syn: broadening] [ant: narrowing]

2. a part of a road that has been widened to allow cars to pass or park [syn: turnout]

3. the act of making something wider [syn: broadening] [ant: narrowing]

In computer science, especially model checking and abstract interpretation, widening refers to at least two different techniques in the analysis of abstract transition systems where infinite progressions of abstract states are replaced by a (computed or guessed) least fixed point. The use of the term in model checking is closely related to acceleration techniques, some authors reserving acceleration for exact computations.