distend
/dɪsˈtɛnd/
Group 28Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To swell or cause to swell by pressure from inside GRE
Example in Context
The floodwaters distended the riverbanks until the levees could no longer contain the volume, causing breaches at several critical points.
Synonyms
swellbloatexpand
Etymology
To stretch apart, causing swelling.
- dis- (Latin) — apart
- tendere (Latin) — to stretch
Memory Aid
🌌Sounds like “distant”
Imagine a balloon being blown up so much it feels distant from reality — it's about to DISTEND!
Visual Association
🎈A balloon swelling larger and larger until it nearly bursts with pressure, floating away.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “distend” mean on the GRE?
distend (verb) means “To swell or cause to swell by pressure from inside”. The floodwaters distended the riverbanks until the levees could no longer contain the volume, causing breaches at several critical points.
How to remember “distend” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “distend” sounds like “distant”. Imagine a balloon being blown up so much it feels distant from reality — it's about to DISTEND!
What are synonyms for “distend”?
Common synonyms: swell, bloat, expand.