swelling

American  

[swel-ing] / ˈswɛl ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that swells.

2. the condition of being or becoming swollen. swollen.

3. a swollen swollen part; a protuberance or prominence.

4. Pathology. an abnormal enlargement or protuberance, as that resulting from edema.

---

swelling British  

/ ˈswɛlɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of expansion or inflation

2. the state of being or becoming swollen

3. a swollen or inflated part or area

4. an abnormal enlargement of a bodily structure or part, esp as the result of injury

---

Other Word Forms

• unswelling adjective

Etymology

Origin of swelling

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; swell + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

In November, the Food and Drug Administration approved the drug for use in patients with macular edema following retinal vein occlusion, a condition where leaky blood vessels in the eye cause swelling.

From Barron's

The American challenger, who accepted the bout on just 15 days' notice, caused swelling under Serrano's right eye with an overhand left in the fifth.

From BBC

Complications can include bacterial infection of scabs, and much more rarely, a swelling of the brain known as encephalitis, lung inflammation known as pnemonitis, and stroke.

From BBC

Infection, severe bruising, asymmetry, dryness, prolonged swelling or difficulty closing eyes completely are all possible, says Tsai—and not everyone is a good candidate, despite what your feed might suggest.

From The Wall Street Journal

He briefly tried wearing compression socks for his swelling ankles, but stopped because he didn’t like them.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• abscess
• blister
• bruise
• bump
• contusion
• inflammation
• injury
• nodule
• sore
• tumor
• welt