Dictionary.com

intumescence

[ in-too-mes-uhns, -tyoo- ]
/ ˌɪn tʊˈmɛs əns, -tyʊ- /
See synonyms for: intumescence / intumescent on Thesaurus.com

noun

a swelling up, as with congestion.
the state of being swollen.
a swollen mass.

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?
Question 1 of 10
seclusion
a false belief or opinion.
the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.
the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of intumescence

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

OTHER WORDS FROM intumescence

in·tu·mes·cent, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to intumescence

wart, lump, nodule, projection, bump, swelling, promontory, growth, excrescence, dilation, bunch, protrusion, salient, hump, sac, blob, distention, protuberance, jut, excess

British Dictionary definitions for intumescence

intumescence

intumescency

/ (ˌɪntjʊˈmɛsəns) /

noun

pathol a swelling up, as with blood or other fluid
pathol a swollen organ or part
chem the swelling of certain substances on heating, often accompanied by the escape of water vapour

Derived forms of intumescence

intumescent, adjective
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

Medical definitions for intumescence

intumescence
[ ĭn′tōō-mĕs′əns ]

n.

The act or process of swelling or the condition of being swollen.
A swollen organ or body part.

Other words from intumescence

in′tu•mes′cent adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.