Vocabulary Spotlight

Bellied

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: Having a belly of a specified kind or size; often used in combination to describe shape or fullness.

“The sail bellied out as the wind filled it, propelling the boat forward.”

Pronunciation

[bel-eed]

Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words

Synonyms

Swollen
Bulging
Rounded
Protruding
Convex

Antonyms

Flat
Hollow
Indented
Sunken
Concave

Related Words

Belly
Inflated
Filled

Word Origin

“Bellied” is derived from the word “belly,” tracing back to Old English “belg,” meaning “bag or pouch.” It describes something rounded or swollen like a belly.

Word Family

Noun: Belly – The stomach or abdomen.

Verb: Belly – To swell or bulge outward.

Adjective: Bellied – Having a round or protruding belly.

Mnemonics

Think of “bellied” as something “filled or rounded like a belly” that expands or bulges.

Industry-specific Usage

Sailing

In sailing, a “bellied” sail refers to one filled with wind, creating a rounded shape for better propulsion.

Fashion

In fashion, “bellied” may describe clothing that creates a rounded or full appearance around the abdomen.

Architecture

In architecture, “bellied” describes bulging or rounded features on structures or designs.

In Context

“Bellied” is commonly used to describe something that swells outward, often in relation to sails, materials, or objects that take on a rounded shape when filled.

Vocabulary Challenges

1. Which of the following is closest in meaning to “Bellied”?

Bulging
Flat
Indented
Concave

“Bulging” is correct as “bellied” describes something rounded or swollen.

2. Fill in the blank: The flag _______ out as the wind picked up, creating a dramatic display.

flattened
collapsed
bellied
sunken

“Bellied” is correct as it implies the flag filled out in a rounded shape.

3. In which context might “bellied” be appropriately used?

Flattening a piece of fabric
Emptying a bag
Folding clothes
Describing a sail filled with wind

“Describing a sail filled with wind” fits, as “bellied” implies something rounded or filled out.