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distention

or dis·ten·sion

[ dih-sten-shuh n ]

/ dɪˈstɛn ʃən /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR distention ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of distending or the state of being distended.

Origin of distention

1375–1425; late Middle English distensioun < Latin distentiōn- (stem of distentiō), equivalent to distent(us) distent + -iōn- -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM distention

hy·per·dis·ten·tion, noun o·ver·dis·ten·tion, noun su·per·dis·ten·tion, noun

Words nearby distention

distend, distended, distensible, distensile, distent, distention, distich, distichia, distichous, distil, distill

Example sentences from the Web for distension

The distension of these sinuses with blood closes the valve and prevents regurgitation.

Manual of Surgery |Alexis Thomson and Alexander Miles
The only other interference with Nature is the distension of the ear-lobes in the older men of the hill districts.

The Fijians |Basil Thomson
At the last-named location the distension is so great that the mass can be readily felt through the abdominal walls.

A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II |Various
This kind of ant has a distension of the abdomen in which honey is stored by the workers for cases of need.

Birds and All Nature, Vol. V, No. 3, March 1899 |Various

It is an expression that seems to me capable of extension and distension.

Personal Reminiscences in Book Making |R.M. Ballantyne

Medical definitions for distension

distention

n.

The act of distending or the state of being distended.