swelling
UK: ˈswelɪŋ | US: ˈswelɪŋ
n. 1. An abnormal enlargement of a part of the body, typically due to injury or infection.
n. 2. The process of becoming larger or rounder in size, often due to pressure or accumulation.
v. (present participle of swell) 3. Increasing in size or volume.
The word swelling derives from the Old English swellan (to grow or inflate), which traces back to Proto-Germanic swellaną. The root swell originally conveyed the idea of expansion or puffing up, often due to internal pressure. The suffix -ing turns the verb into a noun denoting the result or process of swelling. Over time, the term specialized in medical and physical contexts to describe abnormal growths or expansions, retaining its core logic of "increasing in size."
The swelling on her ankle subsided after applying ice.
Inflammation can cause painful swelling in the joints.
The river is swelling due to heavy rainfall upstream.
He noticed a slight swelling where the insect had bitten him.
The dough began swelling as it fermented overnight.