Definition of "swell up" []

• To become swollen (verb)

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• "The sting of some little word or action that wouldn't get under your skin at all, is apt to swell up one of these fellows 'bump of self-esteem as big as an egg-plant, and make it sore all over."
• "The woman, Uba, cleaned it and set it right, and it did not even swell up with pus and fever."
• "The brows are corrugated into an expression of agony, both hands often pressed tight against the ears – perhaps an instinctive counterpressure to the force with which the air is expelled from within – the body is thrust forward and swayed, face and neck turn crimson, the veins of the neck swell up into cords."