intransitive verb swelled, swelled or swollen, swelling
- to increase in volume or become larger as a result of pressure from within; expand; dilate
- to become larger at a particular point; curve out; bulge; protrude
- to extend beyond or above the normal or surrounding level
- to form swells, or large waves: said of the sea
- to be or become filled (with pride, indignation, self-importance, etc.)
- to increase within a person, as a feeling: the anger swelling in him
- to increase in size, force, intensity, degree, etc.: membership swelled to a thousand
- to increase in volume or loudness
transitive verb
to cause to swell; specif.,
- to cause to increase in size, volume, extent, degree, etc.
- to cause to bulge or protrude
- to fill with pride, indignation, etc.; inflate; puff
- to cause (a tone, chord, etc.) to increase in loudness