Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Distend \Dis*tend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Distended}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Distending}.] [L. distendere, distentum, distensum;
   dis- + tendere to stretch, stretch out: cf. F. distendre to
   distend, d['e]tendre to unbend. See {Tend}, and cf.
   {Detent}.]
   1. To extend in some one direction; to lengthen out; to
      stretch. [R.]

            But say, what mean those colored streaks in heaven
            Distended as the brow of God appeased? --Milton.

   2. To stretch out or extend in all directions; to dilate; to
      enlarge, as by elasticity of parts; to inflate so as to
      produce tension; to cause to swell; as, to distend a
      bladder, the stomach, etc.

            The warmth distends the chinks.       --Dryden.

   Syn: To dilate; expand; enlarge; swell; inflate.

Source : WordNet®

distended
     adj 1: abnormally distended especially by fluids or gas; "hungry
            children with bloated stomachs"; "he had a grossly
            distended stomach"; "eyes with puffed (or puffy)
            lids"; "swollen hands"; "tumescent tissue"; "puffy
            tumid flesh" [syn: {bloated}, {puffed}, {puffy}, {swollen},
             {tumescent}, {tumid}, {turgid}]
     2: abnormally expanded or increased in size; (`swollen' is
        sometimes used in combination); "distended wineskins";
        "the need to clean out swollen inventories"; "the raisins
        were plump and soft and swollen from being soaked"; "huge
        blood-swollen mosquitoes" [syn: {swollen}]