English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

swimmer

noun

A person or animal that swims.

swimming

noun

The activity or sport of moving through water using the body.

Swims

name

A surname, an uncommon variant form found in English-speaking families.

swimsuit

noun

A garment designed to be worn for swimming.

swindle

verb

To cheat someone out of money or property through deception.

swindler

noun

A person who cheats others out of money through deception.

swindling

noun

The act of cheating someone out of money through deception.

Swindon

name

A town in Wiltshire, England, known historically as a major railway engineering center.

swine

noun

A pig, especially a domesticated one raised for farming.

swing

verb

To move back and forth or in a circular path while hanging from a fixed point.

swinger

noun

Someone who practices swinging — casual sexual activity with different partners, often within a couple relationship.

swinging

adj

Moving back and forth in a rhythmic way.

swipe

verb

To steal something, often quickly and casually.

swirl

verb

To move in a twisting, circular pattern.

swirling

adj

Moving in a twisting, circular pattern.

swirly

adj

Having a pattern of swirls or curves.

swish

noun

A soft rustling or hissing sound, often caused by quick movement through the air.

swishing

noun

A soft rustling sound produced by movement, such as fabric or fur.

Swiss

adj

Relating to Switzerland or its people.

switch

noun

A device used to turn an electrical circuit on or off.

switchblade

noun

A folding knife whose blade springs open automatically when a button is pressed.

switchboard

noun

A panel or system used to connect and route telephone calls.

switcheroo

noun

A sudden, sneaky, or surprising swap.

switching

noun

The act or process of changing from one thing, state, or connection to another.

Switzerland

name

A landlocked country in Western and Central Europe, known for its neutrality, mountains, and banking industry.

swivel

noun

A joint or fitting that allows something attached to it to rotate freely.

swollen

adj

Enlarged or puffed up beyond the normal size, usually from injury, illness, or fluid buildup.

swoon

verb

To faint or become lightheaded, especially from strong emotion.

swoop

verb

To dive or sweep downward suddenly through the air.

swooping

adj

Making a sudden sweeping or diving movement.

swoosh

verb

To move quickly, making a rushing or swirling sound.

sword

noun

A long-bladed weapon with a hilt, used for cutting or stabbing.

swordfish

noun

A large ocean fish with a long, flat, sword-like bill, prized as a food fish.

swordplay

noun

Fighting, fencing, or dueling with swords.

swordsman

noun

A person skilled at fighting or fencing with a sword.

swordsmanship

noun

Skill in using a sword.

sworn

adj

Made or declared formally under oath.

Sy

name

A surname found in West African and Chinese communities; also used as a short given name.

Sybil

name

A feminine given name derived from the ancient Greek "Sibyl," a prophetess figure.

sycamore

noun

A North American shade tree with mottled, flaking bark, or a related large maple grown in Europe.

Sydney

name

The largest city in Australia; also used as a given name for both men and women.

Sykes

name

An English surname, originally denoting someone who lived near a small stream or marsh.

syllable

noun

A unit of pronunciation formed around a single vowel sound, often making up part of a word.

syllabus

noun

An outline of the topics to be covered in a course of study.

Sylvester

name

A male given name from Latin used in English since the sixteenth century.

Sylvie

name

A feminine given name of French origin, derived from Latin "silva," meaning "forest."

symbiosis

noun

A close, long-term relationship between different species that benefits at least one, and often both.

symbiote

noun

An organism living in a close, mutual relationship with another organism; also used loosely for any dependent partner.

symbiotic

adj

Describing a relationship in which two different organisms, groups, or things live together and benefit from each other.

symbol

noun

A written character or image that stands for an idea, object, or sound.

symbolic

adj

Serving as a symbol; representing something beyond its literal meaning.

symbolically

adv

In a way that represents or stands for something else, rather than literally.

symbolism

noun

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.

symbolize

verb

To be a symbol of; to represent something beyond its literal meaning.

symmetrical

adj

Having matching parts on either side of a dividing line or centre; balanced in shape or arrangement.

symmetry

noun

The quality of having matching, balanced parts on either side of a line, plane, or centre.

sympathetic

adj

Showing understanding, care, or compassion for someone else's feelings or situation.

sympathize

verb

To feel or express understanding and care for someone else's suffering or situation.

sympathizer

noun

A person who supports or shares understanding with a cause, side, or movement.

sympathy

noun

A feeling of pity or sorrow for someone else's suffering or misfortune.

symphony

noun

A large-scale orchestral piece of music, usually in several movements.

symposium

noun

A formal meeting or conference where experts give presentations and discuss a topic.

symptom

noun

A physical or mental sign felt by a person that indicates illness or disorder, such as pain or fatigue.

symptomatic

adj

Showing the signs or symptoms of a condition.

synagogue

noun

A building used as a place of worship and study by Jewish communities.

synaptic

adj

Relating to a synapse, the junction where signals pass between two nerve cells.

sync

verb

To make two or more things happen or update together at the same time.

synced

adj

Updated or coordinated to match another device, file, or schedule.

synchro

noun

A synchronized event or activity, especially synchronized swimming.

synchronicity

noun

The quality of happening at the same time; simultaneity.

synchronization

noun

The act or state of making things happen at the same time or run at matching rates.

synchronize

verb

To make two or more things happen at the same time or the same rate.

synchronized

adj

Made to happen together, coordinated in time.

syndicate

noun

A group of people or companies who join together to run a business venture or pursue a shared interest.

syndicated

adj

Sold or broadcast to many different newspapers, stations, or channels at the same time rather than produced by just one.

syndrome

noun

A recognizable group of symptoms or signs that together point to a particular medical or psychological condition.

syne

adv

Afterward; then (chiefly Scots and archaic).

synergy

noun

The extra benefit gained when people, groups, or things combine and work together, greater than what each could achieve alone.

synod

noun

A formal council or meeting of church leaders held to decide on religious matters.

synonymous

adj

Having the same or a very similar meaning as another word or phrase.

synopsis

noun

A short summary that covers the main points of a book, film, or other written work.

syntax

noun

The set of rules governing how words are arranged to form correct phrases and sentences in a language.

synth

noun

Short for synthesizer, an electronic instrument for creating and shaping sounds.

synthesis

noun

The forming of something new and complete by combining separate parts or ideas.

synthesize

verb

To combine two or more elements to create something new.

synthesized

adj

Produced by combining separate elements, or created artificially rather than occurring naturally.

synthesizer

noun

An electronic musical instrument, usually played with a keyboard, that generates and shapes sound electronically.

synthetic

adj

Made by chemical or industrial synthesis rather than occurring naturally, though it may closely match a natural equivalent.

syphilis

noun

A sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria, which can cause serious long-term health problems if untreated.

Syracuse

name

A historic city and port in Sicily, Italy, and former capital of the province of the same name.

Syria

name

A country in West Asia, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, with its capital at Damascus.

Syrian

adj

Relating to Syria, its people, or its culture.

syringe

noun

A device with a needle, a chamber, and a plunger, used to inject or draw off fluids.

syrup

noun

A thick, sugary liquid poured over food or used as a sweetener.

system

noun

A set of related parts that work together as a whole.

systematic

adj

Carried out according to a fixed, organized plan or method.

systematically

adv

In an organized, methodical way; following a consistent plan.

systemic

adj

Affecting or built into an entire system, organization, or body rather than just one part of it.

systolic

adj

Relating to systole, the phase when the heart contracts and pumps blood.

Szabo

name

A Hungarian surname, historically an occupational name for a tailor.

Sze

name

A Chinese surname, a romanization related to the name Xie.