n.
- a rounded swelling distorting a flat surface.
- Military a piece of land projecting outwards from an otherwise regular line.
- informal a temporary increase:
a bulge in the birth rate.
v.
swell or protrude to an unnatural extent.
▸be full of and distended with.
Derivative
- bulging adj.
- bulgingly adv.
- bulgy adj.
Etymology
ME (in the sense ‘wallet or bag’): from OFr. boulge, from L. bulga (see budget).