Definition of Belly

1. Noun. The region of the body of a vertebrate between the thorax and the pelvis.


2. Verb. Swell out or bulge out.
Exact synonyms: Belly Out
Generic synonyms: Intumesce, Swell, Swell Up, Tumefy, Tumesce

3. Noun. A protruding abdomen.
Exact synonyms: Paunch
Generic synonyms: Adipose Tissue, Fat, Fatty Tissue
Group relationships: Body, Torso, Trunk
Specialized synonyms: Bay Window, Corporation, Pot, Potbelly, Tummy
Derivative terms: Paunchy

4. Noun. A part that bulges deeply. "The belly of a sail"

5. Noun. The hollow inside of something. "In the belly of the ship"
Generic synonyms: Inside, Interior

6. Noun. The underpart of the body of certain vertebrates such as snakes or fish.
Group relationships: Craniate, Vertebrate
Generic synonyms: Underpart

Definition of Belly

1. n. That part of the human body which extends downward from the breast to the thighs, and contains the bowels, or intestines; the abdomen.

2. v. t. To cause to swell out; to fill.

3. v. i. To swell and become protuberant, like the belly; to bulge.

Definition of Belly

1. to swell out [v -LIED, -LYING, -LIES]

Medical Definition of Belly

1. Origin: OE. Bali, bely, AS. Belg, baelg, baelig, bag, bellows, belly; akin to Icel. Belgr bag, bellows, Sw. Balg, Dan. Baelg, D. & G. Balg, cf. W. Bol the paunch or belly, dim. Boly, Ir. Bolg. Cf. Bellows, Follicle, Fool, Bilge. 1. That part of the human body which extends downward from the breast to the thighs, and contains the bowels, or intestines; the abdomen. Formerly all the splanchnic or visceral cavities were called bellies; the lower belly being the abdomen; the middle belly, the thorax; and the upper belly, the head. 2. The under part of the body of animals, corresponding to the human belly. "Underneath the belly of their steeds." (Shak) 3. The womb. "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee." (Jer. I. 5) 4. The part of anything which resembles the human belly in protuberance or in cavity; the innermost part; as, the belly of a flask, muscle, sail, ship. "Out of the belly of hell cried I." (Jonah II. 2) 5. The hollow part of a curved or bent timber, the convex part of which is the back. Belly doublet, a doublet of the 16th century, hanging down so as to cover the belly. Shak. Belly fretting, the chafing of a horse's belly with a girth. Johnson. Belly timber, food. Belly worm, a worm that breeds or lives in the belly (stomach or intestines). To cause to swell out; to fill. "Your breath of full consent bellied his sails." (Shak) Origin: Bellied; Bellying. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Belly

bellows fish
bellows fish
bellows length
bellows murmur
bellpull
bellpulls
bellpush
bells
bells of Ireland
bellwether
bellwethers
bellwort
bellwort
bellworts
belly (current term)
belly (current term)
belly-flop
belly-land
belly-up(p)
bellyache
bellyache
bellyached
bellyacher
bellyachers
bellyaches
bellyaching
bellyband
bellybands
bellybutton
bellyful

Other Resources:

Search for Belly on Dictionary.com!Search for Belly on Thesaurus.com!Search for Belly on Google!Search for Belly on Wikipedia!