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Glite Dictionary
to intumesce

to intumesce

9.9
To swell and become larger when heated or when it soaks up water
  • verb
  • /ɪnˈtjuːmɛs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : intumescer
  • The plastic coating will intumesce and form an insulating layer when exposed to high temperatures.

Examples

  • When heated, the substance began to intumesce, releasing small bubbles of gas.

  • As the fire raged, the insulation began to intumesce.

  • New ideas seemed to intumesce in his mind as the discussion progressed.

  • The material will intumesce when exposed to high temperatures.

  • When heated, the foam will intumesce and grow in size to provide better insulation.

  • The fireproof material can intumesce, creating a protective barrier against flames.

  • As the temperature rose, the rubber gasket started to intumesce, filling the gaps in the seal.

Synonyms

to swell
vsto intumesce
117 3.2

To become larger often by pressure or by soaking in water

is narrower, often about physical expansion due to heat or fluid
to swell up
vsto intumesce
28 3.9

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

focuses more on expansion from heat or absorbing liquid and figurative use
to distend
vsto intumesce
12 8.2

To swell because of pressure inside, for example a stomach or a balloon

is similar but can also mean growth from heat or absorbed liquid
to blow up
vsto intumesce
7 2.7

To swell or become larger suddenly

tends to cover gradual or heat related expansion as well as sudden cases
to puff out
vsto intumesce
5 3.5

To make something larger by filling with air or pride

is used more broadly for physical or metaphorical expansion due to heat or liquid
to engorge
vsto intumesce
  • Specialized
2 7.7

To become swollen as it fills with blood or other fluid

is less specific about which fluid and adds heat or figurative senses
to puff up
vsto intumesce
2 4.4

To make something larger or more full, for example by filling it with air

is more formal and may refer to physical expansion from heat or fluid
to tumesce
vsto intumesce
  • Specialized
9.9

To become swollen because fluid gathers in a part of the body

is more general and can mean expansion from heat or metaphorical growth
to tumefy
vsto intumesce
  • Specialized
9.9

To grow bigger because of an injury or infection

is broader, also covering non-injury expansion like heat or metaphor

Antonyms

to shrink
95 1.8

Become smaller after washing or heating

to deflate
18 3.1

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

How Swollen

to balloon
21 4.7
to distend
12 8.2
to intumesce
  • Specialized
9.9
to swell
117 3.2
to puff up
2 4.4

Surface Forms

intumesce infinitive
intumescing present participle
intumesces third person singular
intumesced past
intumesced past participle

Morphology

intumesce = tumesce (opaque) = in + tumesce

Although formed from a productive prefix 'in-' plus the verb 'tumesce', the root is rare and the meaning is not obvious to average learners, so the relation is not derivable by standard rules.

Etymology

Intumesce comes from Latin parts in- ('in' or 'into') and tumescere ('to swell'), and is like the English word tumor, which is a swelling. So, to intumesce is to swell up or expand, as when heat or fluid makes something grow bigger.