distention
UK: dɪˈstenʃən | US: dɪˈstenʃən
n. the act of expanding or stretching, especially due to internal pressure
n. (medical) abnormal swelling or enlargement of a body part or organ
distention = dis<apart> + tent<stretch> + ion<noun suffix>
- dis-: Prefix meaning "apart" or "away" (from Latin dis-).
- tent: Root meaning "to stretch" (from Latin tendere, past participle tentus).
- -ion: Noun suffix indicating an action or state (from Latin -io).
Etymology Origin:
The word "distention" traces back to Latin distendere ("to stretch apart"), combining dis- (apart) and tendere (to stretch). It entered Middle English via Old French, retaining its core meaning of expansion caused by stretching or pressure. The medical sense emerged later, describing bodily swelling. The morphemes logically depict physical or metaphorical "stretching apart."
The distention of the balloon made it prone to bursting.
Abdominal distention can be a symptom of digestive disorders.
The doctor noted significant distention in the patient’s abdomen.
Overeating often leads to uncomfortable stomach distention.
The distention of the fabric revealed its poor elasticity.