Hi,
The file that you exported from iMovie probably was less compressed than the file that you imported. When you import a file into iMovie it unpacks it for editing. The exported version may be less compressed, particularly if the original imported file was highly compressed. Therefore, larger file size.
Your settings and edits can affect file size. If, for example, you exported at Best Quality (pro res), that has a much higher bitrate than Mp4 and is much less compressed, then the exported version would be about 4x file size not counting your edits.
You wouldn't be able to burn a 10GB file to a standard 4.7 GB disk if you were making a data DVD -- i.e, using the burning program on your Mac. However, you should be able to burn the disk if you are using iDVD or other standard DVD authoring programs. With an authoring program the file size is not as important as the duration of the movie. As long as the movie is under 2 hours in duration, including your edits, the authoring program would compress it to fit on a standard DVD no matter if the movie's file size is larger than the disk's indicated capacity. This is what would happen with iDVD and I am assuming that other authoring programs work the same way, otherwise everyone would be limited to 20 minute movies on their DVDs.
-- Rich