Meanings
adjectiveintumescent (not comparable)
- not comparableThat becomes swollen, especially upon exposure to heat.
nounintumescent (plural intumescents)
plural intumescents
- Any substance that swells on exposure to heat, thus increasing in volume and decreasing in density.
Intumescents are used in some fire protection systems.
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveabnormally distended especially by fluids or gas
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinintumēscēns
- Englishintumescent
From Latin intumēscēns, present participle of intumescō (“rise, swell”), from tumescō (“become inflated”).
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with intumescent
crescentfluorescentantidepressantincandescentconvalescentsuppressantiridescentincessantluminescentquiescentpubescentdepressanteffervescentopalescentpearlescentflorescentevanescentelectroluminescenttumescentphosphorescentessentprepubescentsenescentobsolescent
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
intumescent. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/intumescent
MLA
“intumescent.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/intumescent. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “intumescent,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/intumescent.
Source: intumescent on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.