distended

adjective
UK: /dɪˈstendɪd/
US: /dɪˈstendɪd/

  1. Swollen or expanded from internal pressure; enlarged beyond normal size.

    1. Her stomach was distended after the big meal.
    2. The patient's distended abdomen suggested a serious medical condition requiring immediate attention.

Synonyms

swollen bloated expanded inflated
distended verb

  1. Past tense of the verb 'to distend', meaning to swell or cause to swell by pressure from inside.

    1. The balloon distended as he blew more air into it.
    2. The plastic bag distended rapidly with air until it finally exploded with a loud popping sound.

  2. To swell or expand from inside.

    1. Water pressure distended the old pipes.
    2. The heavy rains distended the river banks, causing significant flooding in the area.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "distended" is /dɪˈstendɪd/ in British English and /dɪˈstendɪd/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "distended": swollen, bloated, expanded, inflated.

Example usage of "distended": "Her stomach was distended after the big meal.". More examples on the page.