bloat

1 of 3

adjective

ˈblōt 

: bloated, puffy

bloat

2 of 3

verb

bloated; bloating; bloats

transitive verb

1

a

: to make turgid or swollen

b

: to cause abdominal distension in

2

: to fill to capacity or overflowing

intransitive verb

: swell

bloat

3 of 3

noun

1

a

: one that is bloated

b

: unwarranted or excessive growth or enlargement

bureaucratic bloat

2

: digestive disturbance of ruminant animals and especially cattle marked by accumulation of gas in one or more stomach compartments

3

: a condition of large dogs marked by distension and usually life-threatening rotation of the stomach

Examples of bloat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Data classification and retention policies are established to manage data privacy and minimize data bloat. —Chris Stegh, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

State of play: The urban policy think tank SPUR has warned that City Hall's governance structure creates bloat that slows down delivery of services. —Shawna Chen, Axios, 11 Oct. 2024

Verb

Endo belly, or belly distention, is a term describing moderate to severely painful bloating from endometriosis lesions, comorbid conditions, or surgical complications. —Michelle Pugle, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2024

Social media has been bloated with all manner of attack ads and acrid commentary. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Noun

Despite a number of head-turning ideas and moments of sheer theatricality, the film gives way more often than not to bloat and incoherence. —Aja Romano, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

All of this runs in contrast to the plague Netflix unleashed on entertainment: bloat. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English blout, blote soft, pliable, from Old Norse blautr soft, weak; akin to Old English blēat miserable

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1677, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

bloat

verb

ˈblōt

: to swell by filling with or as if with water or air : puff up

Medical Definition

bloat

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈblōt 

: to make turgid:

a

: to produce edema in

b

: to cause or result in accumulation of gas in the digestive tract of

cucumbers sometimes bloat me

c

: to cause abdominal distension in

intransitive verb

: to become turgid

bloat

2 of 2 noun

1

: a digestive disturbance of ruminant animals and especially cattle marked by accumulation of gas in one or more stomach compartments

2

a

: a condition of large dogs marked by distension and usually life-threatening rotation of the stomach

b

: any flatulent digestive disturbance of domestic animals