distend

/dis'tend/

Thân thiện

The doctor observed that the patient's abdomen was distended.

Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):

   • To cause something to swell or expand outward from internal pressure.
   • To stretch or spread something out, often to an abnormal degree.

2. Verb (Intransitive):

   • To become swollen, enlarged, or stretched, typically due to pressure from within.

Examples of Usage

• Transitive Verb:

  • The excess gas began to distend the patient's abdomen.
  • The frog distended its throat to produce a loud croak.

• Intransitive Verb:

  • The balloon distended as it filled with helium.
  • Her stomach distended painfully after the large meal.

Advanced Usage

• Medical/Scientific Context: Often used to describe abnormal swelling in body parts or organs.
  • The vein distended under the pressure of the tourniquet.
• Figurative Use: Can describe something being stretched or expanded in a non-physical sense, though this is less common.
  • The budget was distended by numerous last-minute additions.

Variants and Related Words

• Distension/Distention (noun): The state of being distended; the act of distending.
  • Abdominal distension is a common symptom.
• Distensible (adjective): Capable of being distended or stretched.
  • The bladder is a highly distensible organ.

Synonyms

• Swell: To become larger in size, often from pressure.
• Inflate: To fill with air or gas so as to expand.
• Dilate: To make or become wider or larger, often used for openings or vessels.
• Expand: To increase in size, volume, or scope.

Antonyms

• Contract: To become smaller or draw together.
• Shrink: To become or make smaller in size.
• Deflate: To release air or gas from something, causing it to collapse.

Related Phrases

• Become distended: The common intransitive form describing the process.
  • The colon can become distended in certain medical conditions.
• Distend with: To swell due to being filled with something.
  • The sails distended with the strong wind.

Học thuật

Verb

1. swell from or as if from internal pressure
   • The distended bellies of the starving cows
2. cause to expand as it by internal pressure
   • The gas distended the animal's body
3. become wider
   • His pupils were dilated

Từ đồng nghĩa

• dilate