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distend (v.)

c. 1400, "to stretch or spread in all directions, expand, swell out," from Latin distendere "to swell or stretch out, extend," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + tendere "to stretch," from PIE root *ten- "to stretch." Related: Distended; distending.

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Definitions of distend from WordNet

distend (v.)
become wider;
Synonyms: dilate
distend (v.)
cause to expand as it by internal pressure;
The gas distended the animal's body
distend (v.)
swell from or as if from internal pressure;
The distended bellies of the starving cows
From wordnet.princeton.edu