Dis·tend v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distended; p. pr. & vb. n. Distending.]
 1. To extend in some one direction; to lengthen out; to stretch. [R.]
 But say, what mean those colored streaks in heaven
 Distended as the brow of God appeased?   --Milton.
 2. To stretch out or extend in all directions; to dilate; to enlarge, as by elasticity of parts; to inflate so as to produce tension; to cause to swell; as, to distend a bladder, the stomach, etc.
    The warmth distends the chinks.   --Dryden.
 Syn: -- To dilate; expand; enlarge; swell; inflate.
 distended
      adj 1: abnormally distended especially by fluids or gas; "hungry
             children with bloated stomachs"; "he had a grossly
             distended stomach"; "eyes with puffed (or puffy)
             lids"; "swollen hands"; "tumescent tissue"; "puffy
             tumid flesh" [syn: bloated, puffed, puffy, swollen,
              tumescent, tumid, turgid]
      2: abnormally expanded or increased in size; (`swollen' is
         sometimes used in combination); "distended wineskins";
         "the need to clean out swollen inventories"; "the raisins
         were plump and soft and swollen from being soaked"; "huge
         blood-swollen mosquitoes" [syn: swollen]