distend
[ dih-stend ]
/ dɪˈstɛnd /
verb (used with or without object)
to expand by stretching, as something hollow or elastic: Habitual overeating had distended his stomach.
to spread in all directions; expand; swell: The sea distended about them.
Nearby words
distasteful, distelfink, distemper, distemperature, distemperoid, distend, distended, distensible, distensile, distension, distent
Origin of distend
1375–1425; late Middle English (< Anglo-French destendre) < Latin distendere, equivalent to dis- dis-1 + tendere to stretch
SYNONYMS FOR distend
1 See expand.
1, 2 enlarge, bloat.
Related formsdis·tend·er, nouno·ver·dis·tend, verbun·dis·tend, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for distend
British Dictionary definitions for distend
distend
/ (dɪˈstɛnd) /
verb
to expand or be expanded by or as if by pressure from within; swell; inflate
(tr) to stretch out or extend
(tr) to magnify in importance; exaggerate
Derived Formsdistender, noundistensible, adjectivedistensibility, noundistension or distention, noun
Word Origin for distend
C14: from Latin distendere, from dis- 1 + tendere to stretch
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medicine definitions for distend
distend
[ dĭ-stĕnd′ ]
v.
To swell out or expand or cause to swell out or expand from or as if from internal pressure.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.