Synonyms

tumefy

American

[too-muh-fahy, tyoo-] / ˈtu məˌfaɪ, ˈtyu- /

verb (used with or without object)

tumefied, tumefying

to make or become swollen or tumid.

tumefy British

/ ˈtjuːmɪˌfaɪ /

verb

to make or become tumid; swell or puff up

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

untumefied adjective

Etymology

Origin of tumefy

1590–1600; back formation from tumefied, Anglicization of Latin tumefactus (past participle of tumefacere to cause to swell), equivalent to tume ( re ) to swell + -factus made, done; see fact, -fy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

During the minute that the skin was allowed to tumefy under the cup, the scarificator was warmed in the palm of the hand in preparation for the most difficult part of the operation.

From Bloodletting Instruments in the National Museum of History and Technology by Appel, Toby

A cup was exhausted of air and applied to the skin, causing the skin to tumefy.

From Bloodletting Instruments in the National Museum of History and Technology by Appel, Toby

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023