intumescence

American  

[in-too-mes-uhns, -tyoo-] / ˌɪn tʊˈmɛs əns, -tyʊ- /

noun

1. a swelling up, as with congestion.

2. the state of being swollen.

3. a swollen mass.

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intumescence British  

/ ˌɪntjʊˈmɛsəns /

noun

1. pathol a swelling up, as with blood or other fluid

2. pathol a swollen organ or part

3. chem the swelling of certain substances on heating, often accompanied by the escape of water vapour

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Other Word Forms

• intumescent
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of intumescence

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

Example Sentences

Here, an intumescence which was to become a mountain, there, an abyss which was to be filled with an ocean or a sea.

From The Underground City, or, the Child of the Cavern by Verne, Jules

If intumescence takes place, the presence of either tartaric acid, molybdic acid, silicic, or tungstic acid, is indicated.

From A System of Instruction in the Practical Use of the Blowpipe Being A Graduated Course Of Analysis For The Use Of Students And All Those Engaged In The Examination Of Metallic Combinations by Anonymous

Tin-oxides combine with carbonate of soda, in the flame of oxidation upon platinum wire, with intumescence to a bulky and confused mass, which is insoluble in more soda.

From A System of Instruction in the Practical Use of the Blowpipe Being A Graduated Course Of Analysis For The Use Of Students And All Those Engaged In The Examination Of Metallic Combinations by Anonymous

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

From Deformities of Samuel Johnson, Selected from his Works by Anonymous

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

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 344, August 5, 1882 by Various

Related Words

• lump
• nodule
• wart