dis·ten·tion

[dih-sten-shuhn]
noun
the act of distending or the state of being distended.
Also, dis·ten·sion.


Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English distensioun < Latin distentiōn- (stem of distentiō), equivalent to distent(us) distent + -iōn- -ion

hy·per·dis·ten·tion, noun
o·ver·dis·ten·tion, noun
su·per·dis·ten·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
distend (dɪˈstɛnd) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
1.  to expand or be expanded by or as if by pressure from within; swell; inflate
2.  (tr) to stretch out or extend
3.  (tr) to magnify in importance; exaggerate
 
[C14: from Latin distendere, from dis-1 + tendere to stretch]
 
dis'tender
 
n
 
dis'tensible
 
adj
 
distensi'bility
 
n
 
dis'tension
 
n
 
dis'tention
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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00:10
Distention is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

distention dis·ten·tion or dis·ten·sion (dĭ-stěn'shən)
n.
The act of distending or the state of being distended.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Example sentences
Abdominal swelling, or distention, is more often caused by overeating than by a serious illness.
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