1swallow1 (ˈswɒləʊ
)
Definitions
verb (mainly tr)
- to pass (food, drink, etc) through the mouth to the stomach by means of the muscular action of the oesophagus
- (often foll by up) to engulf or destroy as if by ingestion ⇒
Nazi Germany swallowed up several small countries
- informal to believe gullibly ⇒
he will never swallow such an excuse
- to refrain from uttering or manifesting ⇒
to swallow one's disappointment
- to endure without retaliation
- to enunciate (words, etc) indistinctly; mutter
- (often foll by down) to eat or drink reluctantly
- (intr) to perform or simulate the act of swallowing, as in gulping
- See swallow one's words
Alternative Forms
ˈswallowable adjective ˈswallower nounWord Origin
Old English swelgan; related to Old Norse svelga, Old High German swelgan to swallow, Swedish svalg gullet2swallow2 (ˈswɒləʊ)
Definitions
noun
- any passerine songbird of the family any passerine songbird of the family Hirundinidae, esp any passerine songbird of the family esp Hirundo rustica (common or barn swallow), having long pointed wings, a forked tail, short legs, and a rapid flight hirundine
- See fairy swallow
Alternative Forms
ˈswallow-ˌlike adjectiveWord Origin
Old English swealwe; related to Old Frisian swale, Old Norse svala, Old High German swalwaTranslations
- British English:
swallow
When you take a swallow, you cause something to go from your mouth down into your stomach.He lifted his glass and took a quick swallow.ˈswɒləʊ NOUN He lifted his glass and took a quick swallow.
- Spanish:
golondrina
nf
- French:
hirondelle
nf
- German:
Schwalbe
nf
- Chinese: 吞咽 n
- Arabic: بَلْعَة n
- Portuguese: bocado nm
- Russian: глоток nm
- Croatian: gutljaj nnt
- Czech: vlaštovka nf
- Danish: synkebevægelse nutr
- Dutch: zwaluw n
- Finnish: nielaus n
- Greek: χελιδόνι nnt
- Italian: rondine nf
- Japanese: 飲むこと n
- Korean: 제비 n
- Norwegian: svale nm
- Polish: jaskółka nf
- Brazilian Portuguese: bocado nm
- European Spanish:
golondrina
nf
- Swedish: svala nutr
- Thai: การกลืนน้ำลาย n
- Turkish: yutma n
- Vietnamese: sự nuốt n
- British English:
swallow
If you swallow something, you cause it to go from your mouth down into your stomach.You are asked to swallow a capsule containing vitamin B.ˈswɒləʊ VERB You are asked to swallow a capsule containing vitamin B.
- Spanish:
tragar
v
- French:
avaler
vt
- German:
hinunterschlucken
vt
- Chinese: 吞咽 vt
- Arabic: يَبْلَعُ vt
- Portuguese: engolir vt
- Russian: глотать vt
- Croatian: gutati v
- Czech: spolknout vt polykat
- Danish: synke v
- Dutch: inslikken vt
- Finnish: niellä vt
- Greek: καταπίνω v
- Italian: deglutire vt
- Japanese: を飲み込む vt
- Korean: ...을 삼키다 vt
- Norwegian: svelge vt
- Polish: połknąć vt połykać
- Brazilian Portuguese: engolir vt
- European Spanish:
tragar
v
- Swedish: svälja vt
- Thai: กลืน ดูดกลืน ฝืนทน vt
- Turkish: yutmak vt
- Vietnamese: nuốt v
- British English:
swallow
When you swallow, you cause something to go from your mouth down into your stomach.He chewed, swallowed and nodded.ˈswɒləʊ VERB He chewed, swallowed and nodded.
- Spanish:
tragar
v
- French:
avaler
vi
- German:
schlucken
vi
- Chinese: 吞咽 vi
- Arabic: يَبْتَلِعُ vi
- Portuguese: consumir vi
- Russian: глотать vi
- Croatian: zatomiti v
- Czech: polknout vi
- Danish: synke v
- Dutch: slikken vi
- Finnish: nielaista vi
- Greek: καταπίνω vi
- Italian: inghiottire vi
- Japanese: 飲み込む vi
- Korean: 삼키다 vi
- Norwegian: svelge vi
- Polish: przełknąć vi przełykać
- Brazilian Portuguese: consumir vi
- European Spanish:
tragar
v
- Swedish: svälja vi
- Thai: กล้ำกลืน vi
- Turkish: yutulmak vi
- Vietnamese: nuốt nước bọt v
Usage examples
She couldn't swallow , she couldn't blink, her brain had seized, its cogs crunched together like a traumatized gearbox.
, THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS (2002)It is obvious why drugs companies will find this hard to swallow.
New Scientist (1998)To turn down that much money was a big swallow , I must say.
Globe and Mail (2004)But the loss of Heineken Cup status next season for the first time is a bitter pill for the club to swallow.
Sun, News of the World (2001)Be careful not to swallow any dirt or that will make you sick.
, The Natural Face Book (1991)