tumesce

tu·mesce  (t-ms)

intr. & tr.v. tu·mesced, tu·mesc·ing, tu·mesc·es

To become or cause to become tumescent.

---

[Back-formation from tumescent.]

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

tumesce - expand abnormally; "The bellies of the starving children are swelling" swell up, tumefy, intumesce, swell distend - swell from or as if from internal pressure; "The distended bellies of the starving cows" expand - become larger in size or volume or quantity; "his business expanded rapidly" belly, belly out - swell out or bulge out puff out, puff up, puff, blow up - to swell or cause to enlarge, "Her faced puffed up from the drugs"; "puffed out chests" bloat - become bloated or swollen or puff up; "The dead man's stomach was bloated" blister, vesicate - get blistered; "Her feet blistered during the long hike"