  After reviewing the three well-known methods to obtain Lie algebras and
superalgebras from given ones, namely, contractions, deformations and
extensions, we describe a fourth method recently introduced, the expansion of
Lie (super)algebras. Expanded (super)algebras have, in general, larger
dimensions than the original algebra, but also include the Inonu-Wigner and
generalized IW contractions as a particular case. As an example of a physical
application of expansions, we discuss the relation between the possible
underlying gauge symmetry of eleven-dimensional supergravity and the
superalgebra osp(1|32).
