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Distend vs Swollen - What's the difference?

distend | swollen |

As verbs the difference between distend and swollen

is that distend is to extend or expand, as from internal pressure; to swell while swollen is .

As an adjective swollen is

distended.

distend

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To extend or expand, as from internal pressure; to swell
  • *
  • (transitive, reflexive, archaic) To extend; to stretch out; to spread out.
  • * 1662 Thomas Salusbury, Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (Dialogue 2):
  • These impure and frail matters are conteined within the angust concave of the Lunar Orb, above which with uninterrupted Series the things Celestial distend themselves.
  • * Milton
  • But say, what mean those coloured streaks in heaven / Distended as the brow of God appeased?
  • To cause to swell.
  • (biology) To cause gravidity.
  • Derived terms

    * distensible

    References

    * ----

    swollen

    English

    Adjective

    (more)
  • distended
  • Verb

    (head)