belly
1bel·ly
noun \ˈbe-lē\ plural bellies
Definition of BELLY
1
2
: an internal cavity : interior
3
: appetite for food
4
: a surface or object curved or rounded like a human belly
5
a : the enlarged fleshy body of a muscle b : the part of a sail that swells out when filled with wind
6
: gut 1a(2)
Examples of BELLY
- He got down on his belly to crawl.
- They slid down the snowy hill on their bellies.
- a gray squirrel with a white belly
- the belly of an airplane
- the belly of a ship
Origin of BELLY
Middle English bely bellows, belly, from Old English belg bag, skin; akin to Old High German balg bag, skin, Old English blāwan to blow — more at blow
First Known Use: before 12th century
Related to BELLY
- Antonyms
- inappetence
2belly
verb bel·lied bel·ly·ing
Definition of BELLY
transitive verb
: to cause to swell or fill out <wind bellying the sails>
intransitive verb
2
a : to slide or crawl on one's belly b : belly-land
Examples of BELLY
- <the sails slowly bellied as the wind picked up>
- <recruits were forced to belly over the obstacle course under simulated enemy fire>
First Known Use of BELLY
1606
Related to BELLY
Rhymes with BELLY
bel·ly
noun \ˈbel-ē\ (Medical Dictionary)plural ; bellies
Medical Definition of BELLY
1
2
: the enlarged fleshy body of a muscle
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