SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
distention
noun
Expansion or swelling caused by stretching outward, often under pressure from within.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Stretching or swelling outward
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topDistension is an alternative spelling; distention commonly suggests pressure or stretching from within.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See distention in use
The demonstration showed the gradual distention of an elastic container.
Distention of a volunteer's coat pocket became visible when bulky model supports pushed the fabric outward from inside.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
- WordNet 3.0: selected lexical senses
- Dictionary.com, Distention and Distend
- Retained dictionary source
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license