'Distend' definitions:
Definition of 'distend'
(from WordNet)
verb
Become wider; "His pupils were dilated" [syn: dilate, distend]
verb
Cause to expand as it by internal pressure; "The gas distended the animal's body"
verb
Swell from or as if from internal pressure; "The distended bellies of the starving cows"
Definition of 'Distend'
From: GCIDE
- Distend \Dis*tend"\, v. i. To become expanded or inflated; to swell. "His heart distends with pride." --Milton. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Distend'
From: GCIDE
- Distend \Dis*tend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distended; p. pr. & vb. n. Distending.] [L. distendere, distentum, distensum; dis- + tendere to stretch, stretch out: cf. F. distendre to distend, d['e]tendre to unbend. See Tend, and cf. Detent.]
- 1. To extend in some one direction; to lengthen out; to stretch. [R.] [1913 Webster]
- But say, what mean those colored streaks in heaven Distended as the brow of God appeased? --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To stretch out or extend in all directions; to dilate; to enlarge, as by elasticity of parts; to inflate so as to produce tension; to cause to swell; as, to distend a bladder, the stomach, etc. [1913 Webster]
- The warmth distends the chinks. --Dryden.
- Syn: To dilate; expand; enlarge; swell; inflate. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'distend'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- add to,
- aggrandize,
- amplify,
- augment,
- bag,
- balloon,
- belly,
- belly out,
- bilge,
- billow,
- bloat,
- blow up,
- bouge,
- broaden,
- bug,
- build,
- build up,
- bulge,
- bulk,
- bulk out,
- crescendo,
- develop,
- dilate,
- enlarge,
- expand,
- extend,
- fill out,
- goggle,
- greaten,
- hike,
- hike up,
- huff,
- increase,
- inflate,
- lengthen,
- magnify,
- pooch,
- pop,
- pouch,
- pout,
- puff,
- puff up,
- pump,
- pump up,
- raise,
- rarefy,
- round out,
- snowball,
- stretch,
- sufflate,
- swell,
- swell out,
- tumefy,
- up,
- widen