English · Body & Health
swollen
/ˈswoʊlən/
[/ˈswoʊlən/]
larger than normal due to injury or illness
Intermediateadjective
Definition
Made larger and rounder than usual, often because of injury or illness. It is the past participle of 'swell' used as a description.
Example
Her swollen ankle made it hard to walk.
Her swollen ankle made it hard to walk.
Etymology
Past participle of 'swell', from Old English 'swellan'.
How & Where It’s Used
Common in medical descriptions of injuries and infections.