v. dis·tend·ed, dis·tend·ing, dis·tends v.intr. To swell out or expand, especially from internal pressure: The puppies ate until their stomachs distended. v.tr. To cause to expand, especially from internal pressure; dilate: Fluid distends a blister. [Middle English distenden, from Latin distendere : dis-, dis- + tendere, to stretch; see ten- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] dis·tensi·ble (dĭ-stĕnsə-bəl) adj. dis·ten′si·bili·ty n. |
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