swelling meaning and definition

SWELLING noun

Definition of swelling (noun)

1. an abnormal protuberance or localized enlargement
   • synonyms: lump, puffiness
2. something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings
   • "the gun in his pocket made an obvious bulge"; "the hump of a camel"; "he stood on the rocky prominence"; "the occipital protuberance was well developed"; "the bony excrescence between its horns"
   • synonyms: bulge, bump, excrescence, extrusion, gibbosity, gibbousness, hump, jut, prominence, protrusion, protuberance
3. the increase in volume of certain substances when they are heated (often accompanied by release of water)
   • synonyms: intumescence, intumescency