distended

Everyday

1. Distended means swollen and stretched out from inside, often by gas, liquid or food. tree →
2. (medicine) A distended belly or stomach is swollen, which can be a sign of illness or hunger. tree →

In the lessons

A medical and science word; doctors and nature books use it. In stories and news it can describe sick or starving people or animals, so it is a serious word. Phrases: distended belly, distended stomach, distended veins.

Examples

• After the huge feast the snake's body was distended. tree →
• The vet checked the cow's distended stomach. tree →
• The balloon was distended until it nearly popped. tree →
• The doctor said a distended tummy can mean trapped wind. tree →
• The photo showed hungry children with distended bellies. tree →
• The frog's throat was distended as it croaked. tree →

Note

Formal; everyday words are swollen, puffed up, bloated. Do not mix up with «distant» or «extended». The verb distend is rarer than the adjective.