English Explanatory Dictionary

tumescence

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A swelling due to the presence of fluid.
  2. A swollen bodily organ; used especially of erectile tissue.

Pronunciation

/tjuːˈmɛsəns/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-tumescence.wav

Word forms

tumescence tumescences

Etymology

First attested 1725, from French tumescence, from Latin tumescēns (“swelling”), present participle of tumēscō (“to begin to swell”), from tumeō (“to swell”) + -ēscō (incohative suffix) (English -esce, in this form -escence), stem from Proto-Indo-European *tum-éh₁- (“to be swelling”), stative stem of *tum- (“to swell”).

Synonyms

tumidity turgescence turgidity turgor bloatedness bloating distension ectasia ectasis intumescence inturgescence nodosity swelling swollenness tumescence

Derived words

detumescence nocturnal penile tumescence
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