In′tu‐mesce″ (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p.Intumesced (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Intumescing (?).] [L. intumescere; pref. in- in + tumescere to swell up, incho. fr. tumere to swell. See Tumid.] To enlarge or expand with heat; to swell; specifically, to swell up or bubble up under the action of heat, as before the blowpipe.
In a higher heat, it intumesces, and melts into a yellowish black mass. Kirwan.