swell
v.v. to grow larger or rounder than usual. You often use this when a part of your body gets bigger because of an injury.
v. to increase in size, volume, or intensity. Often describes physiological inflammation or the expansion of a material due to moisture absorption.
My ankle started to swell after I tripped.
The wooden door tends to swell during the humid summer months, making it difficult to close.
As the river began to swell from the heavy spring rains, local authorities monitored the levees for signs of structural failure.
From Middle English swellen, from Old English swellan (“to swell”), from Proto-West Germanic swellan, from Proto-Germanic swellaną (“to swell”), of unknown origin. Cognate with Saterland Frisian swälle (“to swell”), West Frisian swolle (“to swell”), Dutch zwellen (“to swell”), Low German swellen (“to swell”), German schwellen (“to swell”), Swedish svälla (“to swell”), Icelandic svella. The adjective may derive from the noun.
From Middle English swelle, from the verb swellen (modern swell).
From the noun "swell" (a person dressed in an elegant manner).
The verb is intransitive when describing physical growth, but can be transitive in figurative contexts. The past participle 'swollen' is frequently used as an adjective.
My hand is swolled.My hand is swollen.Learners often apply regular verb endings to 'swell', but the correct past participle form is 'swollen'.