bulge
/bʌldʒ/ (bre, ipa) · /bʌldʒ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbəlj also ˈbu̇lj/ (ame, mw)
bulge — verb
- bulgepresent simple I / you / we / they
- bulgeshe / she / it
- bulgedpast simple
- bulging-ing form
1. to swell outward in a rounded shape, often because something pushes against a su
to swell outward in a rounded shape, often because something pushes against a surface from inside.
Theo's backpack bulged with library books on the way home from school.
bulge with + [contents] for showing what is inside
After the boxing match, Karim's left eye was bulging and turning purple.
The old kitchen drawer bulged outward because Yumi had crammed too many tea towels inside.
A thick wallet bulged from Erik's back pocket as he walked into the cafe.
The damp wallpaper had begun to bulge near the bathroom ceiling after the leak.
文法句型
bulge + with/from/out of [container]
用法筆記
Subject is usually a container, body part, or surface; the cause is typically what is inside or pressing against it.
常見錯誤
2. to be so crammed with people or things that the container looks ready to burst.
to be so crammed with people or things that the container looks ready to burst.
The little chapel bulged with relatives who had flown in for Jenna's wedding.
bulge with + [people] for crowded spaces
By midnight, Samir's freezer was bulging with leftovers from the family party.
Tokyo trains bulge at the seams during the morning rush hour.
Eli's inbox was bulging with messages after the news report went viral.
- be packed
more neutral and very common in everyday speech
- overflow
stresses contents spilling out, not just fullness
- burst at the seams
informal idiom; vivid image of an overstuffed container
- be deserted
used of places, not containers
文法句型
bulge + with [contents]
bulge + at the seams
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes overall fullness rather than a visible rounded shape, and the container is almost always followed by 'with' + the contents.
常見錯誤
bulge — noun
- bulgesingular
- bulgesplural
1. a rounded swelling on the outside of something, caused by what is pushing agains
a rounded swelling on the outside of something, caused by what is pushing against it from underneath or inside.
Paloma noticed a small bulge in the carpet near the window.
a bulge in + [surface] for the location of the swelling
There was a strange bulge under Rachid's jacket, and the security guard asked him to open it.
a bulge under + [clothing] for hidden objects
Élise traced the bulge of muscle along the runner's calf with quiet admiration.
The doctor felt a hard bulge on Justin's neck and ordered an ultrasound.
A noticeable bulge in the suitcase showed where Indra had packed her hairdryer.
- lump
more general; can be solid or rounded, often medical
- swelling
common for body parts, especially due to injury
- protrusion
formal; emphasises something sticking out, not necessarily round
文法句型
a bulge in/on/under [object]
用法筆記
Frequently followed by 'in', 'on', or 'under' to anchor where the rounded swelling sits; the prepositions are not interchangeable.
常見錯誤
2. a short period when a number, such as births or sales, rises sharply and then fa
a short period when a number, such as births or sales, rises sharply and then falls back to its usual level.
The town saw a sudden bulge in births nine months after the long blackout.
a bulge in + [statistic] for a brief spike
Online retailers expect a bulge in orders during the week before Lunar New Year.
Economists tracked a brief bulge in unemployment after the factory near Naples closed.
The library reported a bulge in loans every January, when students returned from holiday.
文法句型
a bulge in [statistic/quantity]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this is metaphorical and refers to a statistic or quantity over time, not a physical lump; the rise is understood to be temporary.