Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

tumescent

/tuˈmɛsənt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.62 in modern English

Syllables: tumes-cent
IPA: /tuˈmɛsənt/

13

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Swollen or distended with fluid, as of erectile tissue.

adj

Inflated or overblown.

Example Sentences

"I think that in Gloria MacMillan uses this tumescent language for a comparatively modest purpose — to show how it was between men and women in the war — and the language inflates and perverts his meaning unconscionably."

Etymology

From Latin tumēscēns (“swelling, bloating”).

Word Breakdown

Root: *tewh₂-

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /tuˈmɛsənt/

Inflected Forms

more tumescent (comparative) most tumescent (superlative)

Derived Forms

detumescent nontumescent tumescently

Frequently Paired Words

contumely tumor tumult

Synonyms

tumid turgescent turgid puffy intumescent distended bloated swollen

Rhymes With

preadolescent crescent fluorescent incessant incandescent antidepressant iridescent pubescent convalescent depressant effervescent luminescent

Questions

How do you pronounce tumescent?: The recorded pronunciation is /tuˈmɛsənt/.
What does tumescent mean?: Swollen or distended with fluid, as of erectile tissue.
Where does tumescent come from?: From Latin tumēscēns (“swelling, bloating”).

How to pronounce tumescent

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “tumescent”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/tuˈmɛsənt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “tumescent”.
Repeat and practice — Say “tumescent” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.