bellied

Everyday

1. Bellied is used in compound words to describe what kind of belly (tummy) something has: pot-bellied, big-bellied, red-bellied. tree →
2. (rare) Bellied means swelled out in a round shape: the sails bellied in the wind. tree →
3. «Belly-up» means dead (for a fish) or failed (for a business). tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons and bird or animal books, «bellied» is part of names: red-bellied woodpecker, yellow-bellied sapsucker, pot-bellied pig. In stories, a «pot-bellied» man has a round tummy; describing bodies should be kind. «Yellow-bellied» is an old slang insult meaning cowardly. Sailing stories use «the sails bellied out». Phrases: «pot-bellied», «red-bellied», «yellow-bellied», «big-bellied».

Examples

• A red-bellied woodpecker tapped on the tree. tree →
• They keep a pot-bellied pig as a pet. tree →
• The ship's sails bellied out in the strong wind. tree →
• The pot-bellied stove warmed the old cabin. tree →
• (old slang) "You yellow-bellied coward!" shouted the cowboy. tree →
• The big-bellied jug held lots of water. tree →

Note

Almost always with a hyphen after another word: «pot-bellied», «red-bellied». The base noun is «belly» (plural «bellies»). «Yellow-bellied» is an insult. Say it "BEL-eed".