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tumescence

 - 7 dictionary results

tu⋅mes⋅cent

  [too-mes-uhnt, tyoo-]
Use tumescence in a Sentence
–adjective
1. swelling; slightly tumid.
2. exhibiting or affected with many ideas or emotions; teeming.
3. pompous and pretentious, esp. in the use of language; bombastic.
Origin:
1880–85; < L tumēscent- (s. of tumēscēns, prp. of tumēscere to begin to swell), equiv. to tum(ēre) to swell + -ēscent- -escent

Related forms:
tu⋅mes⋅cence, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To tumescence
tu·mes·cence   (tōō-měs'əns, tyōō-)   
n.  

    1. A swelling or enlarging.

    2. A swollen condition.

  2. A swollen part or organ.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

tumescence 
1859, from Fr. tumescence, from L. tumescentem (nom. tumescens) "swelling," prp. of tumescere "begin to swell," from tumere "to swell" (see thigh) + inchoative suffix -escere. The earliest attested form of the word in Eng. is tumefaction (1597).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: tu·mes·cence
Pronunciation: t(y)ü-'mes-&n(t)s
Function: noun
: the quality or state of being tumescent;especially : readiness for sexual activity marked especially by vascular congestion of the sex organs <tumescence … is the really essential part of the process—Havelock Ellis>

Main Entry: tu·mes·cent
Pronunciation: -'mes-&nt
Function: adjective
: somewhat swollen <tumescent tissue>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

tumescence tu·mes·cence (t&oomacr;-měs'əns, ty&oomacr;-)
n.

  1. A swelling or an enlargement.

  2. A swollen condition.

  3. A swollen part or organ.

tumescent tu·mes·cent (t&oomacr;-měs'ənt, ty&oomacr;-)
adj.

  1. Somewhat tumid.

  2. Becoming swollen; swelling.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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