Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The state of being swollen.
  • noun Something swollen, especially an abnormally swollen body part or area.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Grand; pompous; inflated; bombastic: as, swelling words.
  • noun A tumor, or any morbid enlargement: as, a swelling on the hand or leg.
  • noun A protuberance; a prominence.
  • noun A rising or inflation, as by passion or other powerful emotion: as, the swellings of anger, grief, or pride.
  • noun The state of being puffed up; arrogance; pride.
  • noun An overflow; an inundation.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The act of that which swells
  • noun (Med.) A protuberance; a prominence.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The state of being swollen.
  • noun Anything swollen, especially any abnormally swollen part of the body.
  • verb Present participle of swell.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the increase in volume of certain substances when they are heated (often accompanied by release of water)
  • noun something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings
  • noun an abnormal protuberance or localized enlargement

Etymologies

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Examples

  • If I see a swelling following a bug bite (if a swelling is anything bigger than normally), I should give my son a prescribed dose of both medicines immediately.

    Peace In A Dyson | Her Bad Mother 2009

  • ` ` These kind of injuries, you always wait until the next day and see how the swelling is and just see how he reacts from it. ''

    USATODAY.com 2007

  • The Tdap vaccine was developed to combat both the high rate of swelling from the diphtheria vaccine and the waning immunity to pertussis; it was introduced in 2006 and is now recommended for all adolescents and adults the next time they are getting their booster.

    Questions and Answers About the Vaccine Schedule 2009

  • “The twin swelling heads of Empire and Oligarchy are driving our country into an ever-deepening corporate state, wholly incompatible with democracy and the rule of law.”

    Think Progress » ThinkFast: March 11, 2010 2010

  • If the small swelling is not going down, I should increase the dose (she wrote the daily maximum).

    Peace In A Dyson | Her Bad Mother 2009

  • Burns to the lips or mouth may result in swelling of the lips and white, patchy areas inside the mouth.

    Caustics 2010

  • I've had ice on it off and on all morning and the swelling is down to half of what it was earlier.

    Life Update in Which Lisa Hurts Herself amberfocus 2009

  • You could add ribbing, especially if his foot swelling is not always the same.

    Laetare Sunday Jean 2009

  • The reaction of tissues to irritants or injury, resulting in swelling, pain, redness or heat.

    Glossary 2010

  • He's back on sedation to rest and minimize brain swelling, his mother Barbara said, according to ESPN.

    T.J. Lavin's Condition Reportedly Improves 2010

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