tumescent

[ too-mes-uhnt, tyoo- ]

adjective

1. swelling; slightly tumid.
2. exhibiting or affected with many ideas or emotions; teeming.
3. pompous and pretentious, especially in the use of language; bombastic.

tumescent

/ tjuːˈmɛsənt /

adjective

1. swollen or becoming swollen

Derived Forms

• tuˈmescence, noun

Other Words From

• tu·mescence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tumescent¹

1880–85; < Latin tumēscent- (stem of tumēscēns, present participle of tumēscere to begin to swell), equivalent to tum ( ēre ) to swell + -ēscent- -escent

Word History and Origins

Origin of tumescent¹

C19: from Latin tumescere to begin to swell, from tumēre

Example Sentences

That's certainly no accident, which makes it a scary thought to see him physically and emotionally naked, and tumescent with the realization that he can get away with anything and people will love him anyway.

From Salon

The voluptuous and tumescent forms convey a subtly erotic dimension.

From Los Angeles Times

Parodying the tumescent anthems music of Prince and Barry White, Business Time looks at the practical realities of seduction on bin night...

From BBC

Rainwater collecting barrels are often tumescent plastic affairs — and considerable eyesores.

From New York Times

And indeed, an hour or so later, a video appeared on Trump’s Twitter feed, complete with a tumescent orchestral score, cinematically recapping the helicopter’s descent and culminating triumphantly with Trump’s salute.

From New York Times