bloat

[bloht]

verb (used with object)

1. to expand or distend, as with air, water, etc.; cause to swell.

   Overeating bloated their bellies.

   Synonyms: balloon, enlarge, inflate, inflate, swell, swell

2. to puff up; make vain or conceited.

   The promotion has bloated his ego to an alarming degree.

3. to cure (fishes) as bloaters.

verb (used without object)

1. to become swollen; be puffed out or dilated.

   The carcass started to bloat.

noun

1. Also called hoven. Veterinary Pathology.,  (in cattle, sheep, and horses) a distention of the rumen or paunch or of the large colon by gases of fermentation, caused by eating ravenously of green forage, especially legumes.

2. a person or thing that is bloated.

3. bloater.

bloat

/ bləʊt /

verb

1. to swell or cause to swell, as with a liquid, air, or wind

2. to become or cause to be puffed up, as with conceit

3. (tr) to cure (fish, esp herring) by half-drying in smoke

noun

1. vet science an abnormal distention of the abdomen in cattle, sheep, etc, caused by accumulation of gas in the stomach

Word History and Origins

Origin of bloat¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; earlier bloat (adjective) “soft, puffy,” Middle English blout, from Old Norse blautr “wet, soft”

Word History and Origins

Origin of bloat¹

C17: probably related to Old Norse blautr soaked, Old English blāt pale

Example Sentences

The automaker was working through a plan to reduce bloated inventories in the U.S. in the corresponding quarter last year, which dragged on production the number of cars shipped to dealers.

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Kingston said she had been experiencing bloating and aches for some time, but only sought medical help after spotting blood in her urine.

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He has criticized the federal workforce as bloated and has ordered terminations of employees whom he has described as unaccountable.

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But don’t expect a newly elected legislature to solve France’s deeper crises, which trace to a budget bloated with unsustainable spending that sucks life out of an anemic economy.

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Currently, known side effects are the risk of stomach upset, muscle cramps and bloating.

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Related Words

• inflate 
• swell