1. Abnormally expanded, esp. by fluids or gas
   "swollen hands";
   - puffy, intumescent, tumescent, tumid, turgid, distended, bloated
    
2. Characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
   "so swollen by victory that he was unfit for normal duty"; "growing ever more swollen-headed and arbitrary";
   - conceited, egotistic, egotistical, self-conceited, swollen-headed, vain, proud, puffed-up [informal], swellheaded [N. Amer, informal]

1. Increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
   "The music swelled to a crescendo"
    
2. Cause to become swollen
   "The water swells the wood"
    
3. Expand abnormally
   "The bellies of the starving children are swelling"; "His ankle swelled up after he twisted it";
   - swell up, intumesce, tumefy, tumesce, puff
    
4. Become filled with pride, arrogance, or anger
   "The mother was swelling with importance when she spoke of her son";
   - puff up
    
5. Come up (as of feelings and thoughts, or other ephemeral things)
   "Smoke swelled from it";
   - well up
    
6. Come up, as of a liquid
   "Tears swell in her eyes";
   - well

See also: proud, unhealthy

Type of: acquit, act, arise, bear, behave, carry, come up, comport, conduct, deport, develop, do, expand, grow, increase, originate, rise, rise up, spring up, surface, uprise [archaic, literary]

Encyclopedia: Swollen