verb

distend

dih-STEND/dɪˈstend/

To swell or cause to expand from internal pressure.

Air from the hand pump distends the balloon as it fills.

A rubber balloon visibly swelling as air is forced into it by a hand pump, with its taut rounded body contrasting with a small uninflated balloon beside it.

Etymology

The literal image is ‘stretching apart,’ with expansion spreading outward in different directions. This closely matches the medical sense of a body part swelling as pressure stretches it from within.

In context

Veterinary Secrets3:11

mean all that kibble sitting there in the stomach it's produced all this gas and brought in fluid to help break it up and that's caused the stomach to really distend quite rapidly

Bloat in Dogs: Signs to Watch For, What To Do

More examples

Trapped gas can distend the abdomen and cause discomfort.
Her bladder is painfully distended after the long drive.
The sealed bag distends as pressure builds inside.

Forms

distend · distends · distended · distending

distention noun — Swelling caused by pressure from within.

Similar words

swell: Means becoming larger, without necessarily emphasizing internal pressure.
expand: Means increasing in size, whether from pressure or other causes.
inflate: Specifically means filling something with air or another gas.