belly

[ bel-ee ]

/ ˈbɛl i /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: belly / bellied / bellying on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural bel·lies.

the front or under part of a vertebrate body from the breastbone to the pelvis, containing the abdominal viscera; the abdomen.

the stomach with its adjuncts.

appetite or capacity for food; gluttony.

the womb.

the inside or interior of anything: the belly of a ship.

a protuberant or bulging surface of anything: the belly of a flask.

Anatomy. the fleshy part of a muscle.

the front, inner, or under surface or part, as distinguished from the back.

the front surface of a violin or similar instrument.

a bulge on a vertical surface of fresh concrete.

the underpart of the fuselage of an airplane.

verb (used with object), bel·lied, bel·ly·ing.

to fill out; swell: Wind bellied the sails.

verb (used without object), bel·lied, bel·ly·ing.

to swell out: Sails bellying in the wind.

to crawl on one's belly: soldiers bellying through a rice paddy.

Verb Phrases

belly up, Informal.

to approach closely, especially until one is in physical contact: to belly up to a bar.
to curry favor from: Would you have gotten the promotion if you hadn't bellied up to the boss?

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about belly

go / turn belly up, Informal. to come to an end; die; fail: After years of barely surviving on donations, the neighborhood social club finally went belly up.

Origin of belly

before 950; Middle English bely,Old English belig, belg bag, skin; cognate with German Balg,Gothic balgs,Old Norse belgr sack; akin to Welsh bol(a), boly,Irish bolg sack, belly, bellows, Serbo-Croatian blàzina,Latvian pabàlsts,Avestan barəziš-,Persian bālish cushion

OTHER WORDS FROM belly

bel·ly·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use belly in a sentence

There were stomachs, taut and flat, but also undulating bellies, soft and bloated from the breakfast buffet.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
They drink too much, their bellies distend, and most possess a predilection for siliconed blondes and themed belt buckles.
Let Us Now Praise Famous Rednecks and Their Unjustly Unsung Kin|Allison Glock|August 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But it was not just their bellies that needed feeding—their minds and hearts did, too.
Back to Afghanistan|Magsie Hamilton-Little|October 6, 2011|DAILY BEAST
In fact, Miller is trying to get opera singers—known for large bellies and not-exactly-rigorous physical regimes—to shape up.
The Football Player Turned Opera Singer|Eve Conant|February 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST

However, de-miners crawling on their bellies to identify, excavate, and destroy mines remain the default modus operandi.
Diana Landmine Conspiracies Return|Martyn Gregory|June 6, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The snow was up to the horses' bellies, so Silver Jack had to drive at a plunging walk.
Blazed Trail Stories|Stewart Edward White
"They got their bellies full o' fightin' yesterday," added Shorty, studying the array judicially.
Si Klegg, Book 2 (of 6)|John McElroy
Their backs are green, their huge bellies white, and they leap instead of walking.
Stories of Heroic Deeds for Boys and Girls|James Johonnot
Here we filled our bellies, a tea-kettle, and two quart bottles.
Voyage of H.M.S. Pandora|Edward Edwards
Ray explains this by adding, "Full bellies make empty skulls."
The Proverbs of Scotland|Alexander Hislop

British Dictionary definitions for belly

belly

/ (ˈbɛlɪ) /

noun plural -lies

the lower or front part of the body of a vertebrate, containing the intestines and other abdominal organs; abdomenRelated adjective: ventral

the stomach, esp when regarded as the seat of gluttony

a part, line, or structure that bulges deeplythe belly of a sail

the inside or interior cavity of somethingthe belly of a ship

the front or inner part or underside of something

the surface of a stringed musical instrument over which the strings are stretched

the thick central part of certain muscles

Australian and NZ the wool from a sheep's belly

tanning the portion of a hide or skin on the underpart of an animal

archery the surface of the bow next to the bowstring

archaic the womb

go belly up informal to die, fail, or come to an end

verb -lies, -lying or -lied

to swell out or cause to swell out; bulge

Word Origin for belly

Old English belig; related to Old High German balg, Old Irish bolg sack, Sanskrit barhi chaff

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with belly

belly

see go belly up.

belly

Idioms about belly

Origin of belly

OTHER WORDS FROM belly

Words related to belly

How to use belly in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for belly

Word Origin for belly

Other Idioms and Phrases with belly