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Glite Dictionary
to tumesce

to tumesce

9.9
To become swollen because fluid gathers in a part of the body
  • verb
  • /tjuːˈmɛs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tumefar
  • After the insect bite, his arm tumesced rapidly.

Examples

  • The injured area began to tumesce noticeably.

  • The botanist observed how the stem would tumesce after heavy rainfall.

  • After the allergic reaction, her lips began to tumesce visibly.

  • Medical conditions can cause tissues to tumesce rapidly and painfully.

  • After the allergic reaction, her lips began to tumesce visibly.

  • Medical conditions can cause tissues to tumesce rapidly and painfully.

  • After the insect bite, his arm began to tumesce significantly.

Synonyms

to swell
vsto tumesce
117 3.2

To become larger often by pressure or by soaking in water

is limited to formal medical enlargement from fluid accumulation
to swell up
vsto tumesce
28 3.9

Become larger and rounder because of liquid, injury, or illness

is abnormal enlargement specifically from fluid buildup
to tumefy
vsto tumesce
  • Specialized
9.9

To grow bigger because of an injury or infection

is enlargement caused especially by fluid accumulation
to intumesce
vsto tumesce
  • Specialized
9.9

To swell and become larger when heated or when it soaks up water

is a formal sense focused on abnormal fluid accumulation

Antonyms

to shrink
181 2.8

Become less in amount or value

to deflate
18 3.1

To let air out of something so it becomes smaller or loses its shape

How Swollen

to distend
12 8.2
to tumesce
  • Specialized
9.9
to swell
117 3.2
to puff up
2 4.4

Surface Forms

tumesce infinitive
tumesced past
tumesced past participle
tumescing present participle
tumesces third person singular

Etymology

The word tumesce comes from the Latin verb tumēre, which means 'to swell'. You can see the same idea in the word tumor, so tumesce means to swell or become larger, often in a painful or unhealthy way.