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Distending: meaning, definitions and examples

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distending

 

[ dɪˈstɛndɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

medical term

To distend means to stretch or swell something, typically due to the accumulation of fluid or gas. It is often used to describe the expansion of body parts, such as the abdomen, which can occur due to various medical conditions.

Synonyms

enlarge, expand, inflate, swell

Examples of usage

  • The patient's abdomen was distending rapidly.
  • Excessive gas can cause the stomach to distend.
  • The doctor noted that the distending swelling was a sign of an underlying issue.

Translations

Translations of the word "distending" in other languages:

🇵🇹 distendendo

🇮🇳 विशाल करना

🇩🇪 dehnen

🇮🇩 mengembangkan

🇺🇦 дистендування

🇵🇱 rozszerzanie

🇯🇵 膨張する

🇫🇷 dilatation

🇪🇸 dilatación

🇹🇷 genişletme

🇰🇷 팽창

🇸🇦 تمدد

🇨🇿 roztažení

🇸🇰 rozťahovanie

🇨🇳 膨胀

🇸🇮 raztezanje

🇮🇸 vídd

🇰🇿 кеңейту

🇬🇪 გაფართოება

🇦🇿 genişlənmə

🇲🇽 dilatación

Etymology

The term 'distending' derives from the Latin word 'distendere' which means 'to stretch apart'. This Latin word is composed of 'dis-', meaning 'apart', and 'tendere', meaning 'to stretch'. The evolution of the term in the English language can be traced back to the early 15th century. Initially, it was used in medical contexts to describe bodily conditions where parts were swollen due to fluid accumulation or internal pressure. Over time, its usage expanded to include more general applications in various fields such as biology and even everyday language, often relating to the concept of expansion or enlargement due to external forces.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,555 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.