I. bulge 1 /bʌldʒ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1700-1800 ; Origin: bouge , bulge 'bag, swelling, hump' (13-19 centuries) , from Old French bouge ; ⇨ ↑ budget 1 ]
1 . a curved mass on the surface of something, usually caused by something under or inside it:
The gun made a bulge under his jacket.
2 . a sudden temporary increase in the amount or level of something:
a bulge in the birthrate
—bulgy adjective
II. bulge 2 BrE AmE ( also bulge out ) verb [intransitive]
to stick out in a rounded shape, especially because something is very full or too tight
bulge with
His pockets were bulging with candy.
He fell heavily to the floor, his eyes bulging wide with fear.