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Glite Dictionary
to tumefy

to tumefy

9.9
To grow bigger because of an injury or infection
  • verb
  • /tjuːˈmɛfaɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tumefactar
  • Her ankle tumefied after she twisted it during the game.

Examples

  • The tissue began to tumefy after the infection set in.

  • Her ankle started to tumefy within hours of the sprain.

  • If untreated, the injury may tumefy and cause discomfort.

  • The injury will tumefy if not treated properly.

  • After he twisted his knee, it began to tumefy and become painful.

  • If you have an injury, it can tumefy and lead to swelling.

  • The area around the cut started to tumefy due to an infection.

Synonyms

to swell
vsto tumefy
117 3.2

To become larger often by pressure or by soaking in water

specifies pathological abnormal enlargement especially linked to injury or inflammation
to swell up
vsto tumefy
28 3.9

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

describes abnormal, often injury related enlargement rather than general growth
to bloat
vsto tumefy
19 4.9

To become swollen because of gas or fluid

emphasizes abnormal tissue swelling linked to injury or inflammation rather than gases
to blow up
vsto tumefy
7 2.7

To swell or become larger suddenly

typically describes abnormal, injury or inflammation driven swelling rather than suddenness
to engorge
vsto tumefy
  • Specialized
2 7.7

To become swollen as it fills with blood or other fluid

is broader, covering abnormal enlargement from injury or inflammation not just fluids
to puff up
vsto tumefy
2 4.4

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

is limited to abnormal physical enlargement caused by injury or inflammation
to tumesce
vsto tumefy
  • Specialized
9.9

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

is a medical term focusing on abnormal swelling from injury or inflammation
to enflame
vsto tumefy
  • Specialized
7.2

To make a part of the body red, swollen, or painful

focuses on abnormal enlargement as the main effect, not the inflammation process
to intumesce
vsto tumefy
  • Specialized
9.9

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

centers on abnormal medical swelling from injury or inflammation rather than heat causes

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 tumefy
  • Specialized
9.9
to swell
117 3.2
to puff up
2 4.4

Surface Forms

tumefy infinitive
tumefied past
tumefied past participle
tumefying present participle
tumefies third person singular

Morphology

tumefy = tumor (semi-transparent) = tume + fy

Formed from a Latin combining form meaning 'swell' plus the verb-forming suffix '-fy'; the connection is clear to those familiar with medical/Latin-derived vocabulary, but the root is not a common standalone English word.

Etymology

The word tumefy comes from the Latin root tumēre, which means 'to swell', together with the ending -fy meaning 'to make'. So tumefy means 'to make swell', which is why we use it for tissue or a body part that grows larger because of injury or infection.