swell (swɛl
)
Definitions
verb
Word forms: swells, swelling, swelled, swollen, swelled
- to grow or cause to grow in size, esp as a result of internal pressure Compare contract (sense 1) , contract (sense 3)
- to expand or cause to expand at a particular point or above the surrounding level; protrude
- to grow or cause to grow in size, amount, intensity, or degree ⇒
the party is swelling with new recruits
- to puff or be puffed up with pride or another emotion
- (intr) (of seas or lakes) to rise in waves
- (intr) to well up or overflow
- (tr) to make (a musical phrase) increase gradually in volume and then diminish
noun
- the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea
- a succession of waves or a single large wave
- a swelling or being swollen; expansion
- an increase in quantity or degree; inflation
- a bulge; protuberance
- a gentle hill
- informal a person very fashionably dressed
- informal a man of high social or political standing
- music a crescendo followed by an immediate diminuendo
swell organ music- 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
- the manual on an organ controlling this Compare choir (sense 4) , great (sense 21)
adjective
- informal stylish or grand
- slang excellent; first-class
Word Origin
Old English swellan; related to Old Norse svella, Old Frisian swella, German schwellenSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
expand,
increase,
grow,
rise,
extend,
balloon,
belly,
enlarge,
bulge,
protrude,
well up,
billow,
fatten,
dilate,
puff up,
round out,
be inflated become larger
distend,
bloat,
tumefy,
become bloated or distended
=
wonderful,
excellent,
superb,
marvellous,
topping,
sensational,
sovereign,
awesome,
first-rate,
brill,
out of this world
the dog's bollocks,
booshit,
exo,
sik,
rad,
phat,
schmick,
Usage examples
A moment later, he felt it beneath the boat, a building swell that should have dropped away.
, AMAGANSETT (2004)With the fog we've only got 200m of visibility and there's a swell coming in from behind.
Yachting Boating World (2004)If crowds do swell , organizers are making sure they are prepared for any situation.
canada.com (2004)Don't get me wrong - the swell of opinion in favour of the triple vaccine is overwhelming.
Belfast Telegraph (2003)The wind had dropped, but a long swell ran from the western darkness to lift and drop the ponderous hulls.
, SHARPE'S TRAFALGAR (2001)