1. (n.) The rhythmical expansion or dilatation of the heart and arteries; -- correlative to systole, or contraction.

2. (n.) A figure by which a syllable naturally short is made long.

arsis beat bloat bloatedness bloating blowing up bout circle circuit course cycle dilatation dilation distension downbeat dropsy edema flatulence flatulency flatus gassiness inflation intumescence meteorism puff puffiness puffing pulse revolution rotation round series spell stretching swell swellage swelling swollenness systole thesis tumefaction tumescence tumidity tumidness turgescence turgidity turgidness turn tympanism tympany upbeat wheel windiness