bulge

Pluralbulges

Formsbulges, bulging, bulged

1. 1
   stick outnouncountable

   A part that sticks out from a surface, often because something is pushing it out.

   Water damage left a bulge in the kitchen ceiling.

   The cat made a small bulge under the blanket.

   Similarswelling, bump, protrusion, lump, protuberance

   Oppositedent

   Note
2. 2
   stick outverbintransitive

   To push out from a surface without breaking through it.

   His arm muscles bulge when he lifts something heavy.

   The frog's eyes were bulging out of its head.

   Similarprotrude, swell, project

   Note
3. 3
   swell (container)verbintransitive

   Of a bag or other container, to swell out because something inside is pushing on it.

   Her backpack was bulging with books and snacks.

   Paper bags can bulge and tear if you fill them too full.

   Similarswell, expand, balloon

   Note
4. 4
   sudden risenounfigurativelycountable

   A sudden jump in an amount, a number, or a price.

   The store saw a bulge in sales the week before the holiday.

   A bulge in gas prices made summer road trips expensive.

   Similarsurge, spike, rise, jump, boom

   Oppositedip, drop

   Note
5. 5
   in tight clothesnouncolloquialcountable

   The shape of the penis that can be seen through tight clothes.

   Similarpackage, basket

6. 6
   barrel middlenouncountable

   The wide, rounded middle part of a barrel.

   He rolled the barrel across the yard on its bulge.

   A crack ran across the bulge of the old wine barrel.

   Similarbilge

7. 7
   ship bottomnouncountable

   The lowest part of the body of a ship or boat.

   Similarbilge

   Note
8. 8
   sink (ship)verbintransitive

   Of a ship, to break open at the bottom, fill with water, and sink.

   Fatal to Man! at once all Ocean roars, And scattered navies bulge on distant shores.

   1739, William Broome, “The Battle of the Gods and Titans”Here, bulge means a ship breaks open at the bottom, fills with water and sinks.

   Note

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