/dɪˈstend ||; dɪˈstɛnd/verb [I,T] (formal 正式)or(medical医学) to swell or make sth swell because of pressure from inside （因内部压力）（使）肿胀，膨胀: starving children with distended bellies 饥肠辘辘、腹部肿胀的孩子们 ➔distension /dɪˈstenʃn ||; dɪˈstɛnʃən/ noun [U]