ingrossato

Ingrossato is an Italian adjective and the past participle of the verb ingrossare. The term literally means made thicker, enlarged, or bulkier. In common usage it describes something that has increased in size or volume, most often referring to body tissues or organs, but it can also be used more generally for objects or substances that have swollen or thickened.

In medical contexts ingrossato denotes pathological enlargement of a part of the body. Examples include fegato ingrossato (enlarged liver), linfonodi ingrossati (swollen lymph nodes), and gola ingrossata (swollen throat). The underlying causes can include inflammation, infection, congestion, or hypertrophy. In clinical language more precise terms such as ipertrofia (hypertrophy) or edema (fluid swelling) may be used to specify the mechanism of enlargement.

Outside strictly medical writing, ingrossato may appear in everyday language to describe non-pathological thickening or swelling, though in technical or specialized texts more specific terminology is preferred. The word is understood across Italian-speaking contexts and is commonly found in descriptive prose, medical notes, and health information.

Related forms include ingrossare (to enlarge or thicken), ingrossato (enlarged), and ingrossamento (enlargement or thickening, often used for swelling). The term derives from a combination of a prefix indicating increase and the root gross- meaning thick or large, with the usual Italian -ato participial ending.