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swell

 - 6 dictionary results
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swell

  [swel] verb, swelled, swol⋅len or swelled, swell⋅ing, noun, adjective
–verb (used without object)
1. to grow in bulk, as by the absorption of moisture or the processes of growth.
2. Pathology. to increase abnormally in size, as by inflation, distention, accumulation of fluids, or the like: Her ankles swelled from standing.
3. to rise in waves, as the sea.
4. to well up, as a spring or as tears.
5. to bulge out, as a sail or the middle of a cask.
6. to grow in amount, degree, force, etc.
7. to increase gradually in volume or intensity, as sound: The music swelled.
8. to arise and grow within one, as a feeling or emotion.
9. to become puffed up with pride.
–verb (used with object)
10. to cause to grow in bulk.
11. to cause to increase gradually in loudness: to swell a musical tone.
12. to cause (a thing) to bulge out or be protuberant.
13. to increase in amount, degree, force, etc.
14. to affect with a strong, expansive emotion.
15. to puff up with pride.
–noun
16. the act of swelling or the condition of being swollen.
17. inflation or distention.
18. a protuberant part.
19. a wave, esp. when long and unbroken, or a series of such waves.
20. a gradually rising elevation of the land.
21. an increase in amount, degree, force, etc.
22. a gradual increase in loudness of sound.
23. Music.
a. a gradual increase (crescendo) followed by a gradual decrease (diminuendo) in loudness or force of musical sound.
b. the sign (< >) for indicating this.
c. a device, as in an organ, by which the loudness of tones may be varied.
24. a swelling of emotion within one.
25. Slang.
a. a fashionably dressed person; dandy.
b. a socially prominent person.
–adjective Informal.
26. (of things) stylish; elegant: a swell hotel.
27. (of persons) fashionably dressed or socially prominent.
28. first-rate; fine: a swell party.
Use swell in a Sentence
Origin:
bef. 900; ME swellen (v.), OE swellan; c. D zwellen, G schwellen, ON svella; akin to Goth ufswalleins pride

Synonyms:
1. distend, expand. 5. protrude. 10. inflate, expand. 17. swelling. 18. bulge. 19. billow. 27, 28. grand.

Antonyms:
1. contract. 13. decrease, diminish.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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swell   (swěl)   
v.   swelled, swelled or swol·len (swō'lən), swell·ing, swells

v.   intr.

  1. To increase in size or volume as a result of internal pressure; expand.

    1. To increase in force, size, number, or degree: Membership in the club swelled.

    2. To grow in loudness or intensity: "The din in front swelled to a tremendous chorus" (Stephen Crane).

    3. To rise or extend above the surrounding level, as clouds.

    4. To rise in swells, as the sea.

    5. To be or become filled or puffed up, as with pride, arrogance, or anger.

    6. To rise from within: Rage swelled within me.

  3. To bulge out, as a sail.

    1. To rise or extend above the surrounding level, as clouds.

    2. To rise in swells, as the sea.

    3. To be or become filled or puffed up, as with pride, arrogance, or anger.

    4. To rise from within: Rage swelled within me.

    1. To be or become filled or puffed up, as with pride, arrogance, or anger.

    2. To rise from within: Rage swelled within me.

v.   tr.

  1. To cause to increase in volume, size, number, degree, or intensity: The governor's full public disclosure only swelled the chorus of protests.

  2. To fill with emotion.

n.  

    1. The act or process of swelling.

    2. The condition of being swollen.

    3. A crescendo followed by a gradual diminuendo.

    4. The sign indicating such a crescendo.

    5. A device on an instrument, such as an organ or harpsichord, for regulating volume.

  2. A swollen part; a bulge or protuberance.

  3. A long wave on water that moves continuously without breaking.

  4. A rise in the land; a rounded elevation.

  5. Informal One who is fashionably dressed or socially prominent: society swells.

  6. Music

    1. A crescendo followed by a gradual diminuendo.

    2. The sign indicating such a crescendo.

    3. A device on an instrument, such as an organ or harpsichord, for regulating volume.

adj.   swell·er, swell·est Informal

  1. Fashionably elegant; stylish.

  2. Excellent; wonderful: had a swell time.


[Middle English swellen, from Old English swellan.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
swell

  1. mod.
    fine; excellent. (Also sarcastic use.) : Where did you get that swell hat?
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

swell  (v.)
O.E. swellan "grow or make bigger" (past tense sweall, pp. swollen), from P.Gmc. *swelnanan (cf. O.S. swellan, O.N. svella, O.Fris. swella, M.Du. swellen, Du. zwellen, O.H.G. swellan, Ger. schwellen), of unknown origin.

swell  (n.)
c.1225, "a morbid swelling," from swell (v.). In ref. to a rise of the sea, it is attested from 1606. The meaning "wealthy, elegant person" is first recorded 1786; hence the adj. meaning "fashionably dressed or equipped" (1810), both from the notion of "puffed-up, pompous" behavior. The sense of "good, excellent" first occurs 1897, and as a stand-alone expression of satisfaction it is recorded from 1930 in Amer.Eng.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: swell
Pronunciation: 'swel
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Forms: swelled; swelled or swol·len /'swO-l&n/; swell·ing
: to become distended or puffed up swelled>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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