intumescence

[in-too-mes-uhns, -tyoo-]

noun

1. a swelling up, as with congestion.

2. the state of being swollen.

3. a swollen mass.

Other Word Forms

• intumescent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of intumescence¹

From French, dating back to 1650–60; intumesce, -ence

Example Sentences

The intumescence of the uterus continued about the same.

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Perhaps his admirers may answer, that my remark is but the ramification of envy, the intumescence of ill-nature, the exacerbation of 'gloomy malignity.'

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The intumescence continued till it seemed to burst, and exhibited a shocking sight of foam and blood, during which the quack appeared in extreme agonies, and excited the commiseration of all the bye-standers.

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Notice whether the substance fuses with the bead, and if so, whether there is intumescence or not.

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Stilbite is characterized by its form, difficult gelatinizing, and intumescence before the blowpipe; from natrolite as mentioned under that species.

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Related Words

• lump 
• nodule 
• wart