INTUMESCENCE

intumescence, intumescency, swelling

(noun) the increase in volume of certain substances when they are heated (often accompanied by release of water)

intumescence, intumescency

(noun) swelling up with blood or other fluids (as with congestion)

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

intumescence (countable and uncountable, plural intumescences)

(uncountable) the process of swelling up or the condition of being swollen

(countable) an instance of such swelling

Source: Wiktionary

In`tu*mes"cence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. intumescence.]

1. The act or process of swelling or enlarging; also, the state of being swollen; expansion; tumidity; especially, the swelling up of bodies under the action of heat. The intumescence of nations. Johnson.

2. Anything swollen or enlarged, as a tumor.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition