ventricose

1 9.9

Swollen in the middle so it makes a bulge on one side

adjective
/vɛnˈtrɪkoʊs/

Specialized

: ventricoso

The insect's ventricose abdomen stores nutrients.

Examples

The pitcher plant has a ventricose base that traps insects.
Look at that ventricose growth on the plant!
Under the microscope, the fungus displayed a distinctly ventricose hypha.
The ventricose part of the heart can indicate a health issue.
The pitcher plant has a ventricose base that traps insects.
Under the microscope, the fungus displayed a distinctly ventricose hypha.
Look at that ventricose growth on the plant!

Synonyms

ventricous

vsventricose

Specialized

9.9

Having a bulge on one side

has identical meaning but used without the chiefly technical label

Antonyms

flat

414 1.0

Level and even without parts higher or lower

How Swollen

turgid

Specialized

1 8.6

distended

Specialized

10 7.8

swollen

122 3.2

ventricose

Specialized

1 9.9

bulging

25 3.6

puffy

49 2.2

normal

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

ventricose positive

Morphology

ventricose = ventricle (semi-transparent) = ventric + ose

The combining element 'ventric-' (relating to a cavity or belly) plus the suffix '-ose' ('full of') yields the sense 'swollen or bulging', but both morphemes are technical and uncommon for average learners.

Etymology

Ventricose comes from the Latin root venter, meaning 'belly' and found in words like ventricle. Think of a bottle or an animal with a rounded belly — ventricose means having a bulge or being swollen in the middle.