swell·ing

[swel-ing]
noun
1.
the act of a person or thing that swells.
2.
the condition of being or becoming swollen.
3.
a swollen part; a protuberance or prominence.
4.
Pathology. an abnormal enlargement or protuberance, as that resulting from edema.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English, Old English; see swell, -ing1

Related forms
un·swell·ing, adjective
00:10
Swelling is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Dictionary.com Unabridged

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, especially 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.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English swellen (v.), Old English swellan; cognate with Dutch zwellen, German schwellen, Old Norse svella; akin to Gothic ufswalleins pride

Related forms
re·swell, verb, re·swelled, re·swelled or re·swol·len, re·swell·ing.
un·der·swell, verb (used without object), un·der·swelled, un·der·swelled or un·der·swol·len, un·der·swell·ing.
un·der·swell, noun
un·swelled, adjective

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. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To swelling
Collins
World English Dictionary
swell (swɛl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—vb , swells, swelling, swelled, swollen, swelled
1.  contract Compare contract to grow or cause to grow in size, esp as a result of internal pressure
2.  to expand or cause to expand at a particular point or above the surrounding level; protrude
3.  to grow or cause to grow in size, amount, intensity, or degree: the party is swelling with new recruits
4.  to puff or be puffed up with pride or another emotion
5.  (intr) (of seas or lakes) to rise in waves
6.  (intr) to well up or overflow
7.  (tr) to make (a musical phrase) increase gradually in volume and then diminish
 
—n
8.  a.  the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea
 b.  a succession of waves or a single large wave
9.  a swelling or being swollen; expansion
10.  an increase in quantity or degree; inflation
11.  a bulge; protuberance
12.  a gentle hill
13.  informal a person very fashionably dressed
14.  informal a man of high social or political standing
15.  music a crescendo followed by an immediate diminuendo
16.  music Also called: swell organ
 a.  a set of pipes on an organ housed in a box (swell box) fitted with a shutter operated by a pedal, which can be opened or closed to control the volume
 b.  choir Compare great the manual on an organ controlling this
 
—adj
17.  informal stylish or grand
18.  slang excellent; first-class
 
[Old English swellan; related to Old Norse svella, Old Frisian swella, German schwellen]

swelling (ˈswɛlɪŋ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  the act of expansion or inflation
2.  the state of being or becoming swollen
3.  a swollen or inflated part or area
4.  an abnormal enlargement of a bodily structure or part, esp as the result of injury
 
Related: tumescent

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

swell
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
early 13c., "a morbid swelling," from swell (v.). In ref. to a rise of the sea, it is attested from c.1600. 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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

swelling swell·ing (swěl'ĭng)
n.

  1. Something swollen, especially an abnormally swollen body part or area.

  2. A primordial elevation that develops into a fold, ridge, or process.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

swell definition


  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.
Cite This Source
Easton
Bible Dictionary

Swelling definition


of Jordan (Jer. 12:5), literally the "pride" of Jordan (as in R.V.), i.e., the luxuriant thickets of tamarisks, poplars, reeds, etc., which were the lair of lions and other beasts of prey. The reference is not to the overflowing of the river banks. (Comp. 49:19; 50:44; Zech. 11:3).

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Muscle loss, bone loss, abnormal bone swelling or growth.
The thyroid gland may also produce a lump, multiple lumps, or swelling in the
  neck as a result of thyroid disease or cancer.
With the right medication, the pain and swelling diminished, and she began
  physical therapy.
Growth, when it comes, will be too feeble to stop unemployment rising and idle
  capacity swelling.
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriHome Advisor
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT