Distention

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Distention \Dis*ten"tion\, n. [L. distentio: cf. F. distension.]
     1. The act of distending; the act of stretching in breadth or
        in all directions; the state of being Distended; as, the
        distention of the lungs.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     2. Breadth; extent or space occupied by the thing distended.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  distention
       n 1: the state of being stretched beyond normal dimensions [syn:
            {dilatation}, {distension}]
       2: the act of expanding by pressure from within [syn: {distension}]