swelling
B2neutral
Definition
Meaning
A part of the body that has become larger than normal because of illness or injury.
The process or condition of becoming larger, more intense, or more significant; used literally for body parts, population numbers, emotional states, and abstract concepts like pride.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a countable noun for a specific enlarged area ('a swelling'), but can be uncountable to describe the process ('some swelling'). Can describe both physical and abstract growth.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling of related verb 'swell' is the same. Potentially minor differences in collocation frequency.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. Can carry a negative connotation when describing injury or disease, but a positive one in contexts like 'swelling of pride'.
Frequency
Slightly more common in medical/health contexts in both varieties. No significant frequency disparity.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
There is a swelling in [body part]The swelling [verb, e.g., subsided, increased]Swelling of [noun, e.g., the ankle, pride]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Swelling with pride”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could metaphorically describe a growing budget or deficit.
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and materials science texts (e.g., 'swelling of polymers').
Everyday
Very common for describing injuries, insect bites, or allergic reactions.
Technical
Specific medical term (oedema); also used in engineering for materials that absorb liquid and expand.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The river began to swell after the heavy rains.
- Her ankle swelled up quite badly after the fall.
American English
- The creek swelled from the storm runoff.
- His face swelled up from the bee sting.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- He had a badly swollen knee.
- The swollen river burst its banks.
American English
- She applied ice to the swollen joint.
- The swollen creek flooded the path.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a swelling on my arm from the mosquito bite.
- Put ice on it to stop the swelling.
- The doctor said the swelling should go down in a few days.
- A painful swelling developed around the injured joint.
- The medication is effective at reducing inflammation and swelling.
- She felt a swelling of emotion as she listened to the speech.
- The sudden swelling of the population placed immense strain on the city's infrastructure.
- Oedema is characterised by an abnormal accumulation of fluid causing tissue swelling.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a WELL filling with water and getting bigger – a SWELL-ING is a place on your body that gets bigger.
Conceptual Metaphor
INCREASE IN SIZE IS UP/OUT (The swelling rose on his arm). EMOTION IS A FLUID IN A CONTAINER (He was swelling with pride).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'опухоль' (which specifically means 'tumor'). 'Swelling' is 'опухоль' only in the general sense of 'swollen part', not the medical diagnosis. 'Отечность' or 'припухлость' are safer translations.
- The verb 'to swell' (past tense 'swelled') is not related to Russian 'свалить'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'swelling' as a verb (incorrect: 'My ankle is swelling up' is correct; 'My ankle is swelling' is the participle used as adjective). The noun is 'a swelling', not 'a swell'.
- Confusing 'swelling' (process/condition) with 'swell' (excellent, or a rolling wave).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'swelling' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As a general condition or process, it's uncountable ('some swelling'). As a specific enlarged area, it's countable ('a painful swelling', 'two swellings').
'Inflammation' is a broader biological response that includes redness, heat, pain, and swelling. 'Swelling' (oedema) is specifically the increase in size or fluid accumulation, which is one symptom of inflammation.
Yes, though less commonly. It can be used metaphorically for positive emotions or abstract growth, e.g., 'a swelling of pride', 'a swelling melody'.
The related adjective is 'swollen' (past participle of 'swell'), as in 'a swollen ankle'. The present participle 'swelling' can also function as an adjective in some contexts (e.g., 'swelling crowds').