distention

D2I1S1T1E1N1T1I1O1N1
/dɪsˈtɛnʃən/

A form of distension — The act of distending.

Similar
dilatationdistension
OriginMiddle French distension →
UncommonScrabble 11
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Meanings

noundistention (countable and uncountable, plural distentions)

plural distentions

  1. alternativecountableuncountableAlternative form of distension (“the act of distending”).

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe state of being stretched beyond normal dimensions

Similar
dilatationdistension
Broader
physical conditionphysiological statephysiological condition

nounthe act of expanding by pressure from within

Similar
distension
Broader
expansionenlargement
Also see
dilatationdistension

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Frenchdistension
  2. Englishdistention

From Middle French distension.

More words from Middle French

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

distention. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/distention

MLA

“distention.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/distention. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “distention,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/distention.

Source: distention on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.