Standard Lemma guide

tumesce

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /tjuːˈmɛs/
  • General-American: /tuˈmɛs/
  • General-American: /tjuˈmɛs/
  • rhymes with -ɛs

1

verb

Meaning 1

To become tumescent; to expand or inflate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

expand abnormally

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The bellies of the starving children are swelling

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: swell, swell up, intumesce, tumefy

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: expand

Narrower terms: distend, belly, belly out, puff, puff up, blow up, puff out, bloat, blister, vesicate

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.