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.
Origin of distend
1375–1425; late Middle English (< Anglo-French
destendre) < Latin
distendere, equivalent to
dis-
dis-1 +
tendere to stretch
OTHER WORDS FROM distend
dis·tend·er, noun o·ver·dis·tend, verb un·dis·tend, verb (used with object)Words nearby distend
distasteful,
distelfink,
distemper,
distemperature,
distemperoid,
distend,
distended,
distensible,
distensile,
distent,
distention
Example sentences 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 forms of distend
distender, noun distensible, adjective distensibility, noun distension or distention, nounWord Origin for distend
C14: from Latin
distendere, from
dis-
1 +
tendere to stretch
Medical 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.