belly

[ bel-ee ]

noun

, plural bel·lies.

1. the front or under part of a vertebrate body from the breastbone to the pelvis, containing the abdominal viscera; the abdomen.
2. the stomach with its adjuncts.
3. appetite or capacity for food; gluttony.
4. the womb.
5. the inside or interior of anything:

   the belly of a ship.

6. a protuberant or bulging surface of anything:

   the belly of a flask.

7. Anatomy. the fleshy part of a muscle.
8. the front, inner, or under surface or part, as distinguished from the back.
9. the front surface of a violin or similar instrument.
10. a bulge on a vertical surface of fresh concrete.
11. the underpart of the fuselage of an airplane.

verb (used with object)

, bel·lied, bel·ly·ing.

1. to fill out; swell:

   Wind bellied the sails.

verb (used without object)

, bel·lied, bel·ly·ing.

1. to swell out:

   Sails bellying in the wind.

2. to crawl on one's belly:

   soldiers bellying through a rice paddy.

verb phrase

1. Informal.
   1. to approach closely, especially until one is in physical contact:

      to belly up to a bar.

   2. to curry favor from:

      Would you have gotten the promotion if you hadn't bellied up to the boss?

belly

/ ˈbɛlɪ /

noun

1. the lower or front part of the body of a vertebrate, containing the intestines and other abdominal organs; abdomen ventral
2. the stomach, esp when regarded as the seat of gluttony
3. a part, line, or structure that bulges deeply

   the belly of a sail

4. the inside or interior cavity of something

   the belly of a ship

5. the front or inner part or underside of something
6. the surface of a stringed musical instrument over which the strings are stretched
7. the thick central part of certain muscles
8. the wool from a sheep's belly
9. tanning the portion of a hide or skin on the underpart of an animal
10. archery the surface of the bow next to the bowstring
11. archaic.
    the womb
12. go belly up informal.
    to die, fail, or come to an end

verb

1. to swell out or cause to swell out; bulge

Other Words From

• belly·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of belly¹

before 950; Middle English bely, Old English belig, belg bag, skin; cognate with German Balg, Gothic balgs, Old Norse belgr sack; akin to Welsh bol ( a ), boly, Irish bolg sack, belly, bellows, Serbo-Croatian blàzina, Latvian pabàlsts, Avestan barəziš-, Persian bālish cushion

Word History and Origins

Origin of belly¹

Old English belig ; related to Old High German balg , Old Irish bolg sack, Sanskrit barhi chaff

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go / turn belly up, Informal. to come to an end; die; fail:

   After years of barely surviving on donations, the neighborhood social club finally went belly up.

More idioms and phrases containing belly

see go belly up .

Example Sentences

He was criticised during Senate hearings in 2014 for endorsing unproven pills that he said would “literally flush fat from your system” and “push fat from your belly”.

From BBC

A plain-spoken farmer and Montana native who famously lost three of his fingers in a childhood meat-grinding accident, his buzz cut and ample belly make him no one’s idea of a slick, poll-tested politician.

From Los Angeles Times

Months after sporting a fake baby belly in the music video for Machine Gun Kelly and Jelly Roll’s “Lonely Road,” Megan Fox is showing off her bona fide bump.

From Los Angeles Times

In a room at the obstetric emergency department, a nurse wrapped a sensor belt around Crain’s belly to check the fetal heart rate.

From Salon

In the cover shot, the “Gossip Girl” alum kisses his wife’s cheek, his hand on her baby belly.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abdomen
• gut
• insides
• pelvis
• tank
• tummy