English dictionary — definitions & meanings

swan

noun

A large, long-necked waterbird, usually with white plumage, known for its graceful appearance.

swank

adj

Fashionably stylish and impressive; posh.

swanky

adj

Stylish, expensive-looking, and impressive.

swanlike

adj

Similar to a swan or a characteristic of it, especially in elegance or grace.

swanling

noun

A young or baby swan; a cygnet.

Swann

name

A surname, a variant spelling of Swan.

Swanson

name

A surname meaning "son of Swan."

swap

verb

To exchange one thing for another.

swapping

noun

The act of exchanging one thing for another.

sward

noun

Earth which grass has grown into the upper layer of; greensward, sod, turf; (countable) a portion of such earth.

swarf

noun

The waste chips or shavings from an abrasive activity, such as metalworking, a saw cutting wood, or the use of a grindstone or whetstone.

swarm

noun

A large group of insects, especially bees, moving or migrating together.

swarming

noun

The movement of a large group — insects, people, or animals — clustering and moving together.

swart

adj

Of a dark hue; moderately black; swarthy; tawny.

swarten

verb

to make swart, dark, or swarty; darken

swarthy

adj

Having noticeably dark skin or a deep tan complexion.

swash

noun

The water that washes up on shore after an incoming wave has broken.

swashbuckler

noun

A swordsman or fencer who engages in showy or extravagant swordplay.

swastika

noun

An ancient symbol made of a cross with each arm bent at a right angle, historically used across many cultures as a sign of good fortune, but today associated almost entirely with Nazi Germany and fascism.

swat

verb

To hit something sharply and quickly, especially an insect.

swathe

verb

To bind with a swathe, band, bandage, or rollers

swatting

noun

A prank or attack in which someone makes a false report to police to get an armed SWAT team sent to a victim's address.

sway

verb

To move slowly and rhythmically from side to side.

swayed

verb

Past tense of "sway" — moved from side to side, or was persuaded/influenced.

swaying

noun

A slow, repeated movement from side to side.

Swayze

adjective

Slang: dead, or gone for good.

sweal

verb

To burn slowly.

swear

verb

To make a solemn promise or formal declaration, often under oath.

swearing

noun

The use of offensive or crude language.

sweat

noun

The salty liquid released through the skin, usually from heat, exercise, or stress.

sweated

adj

Produced under harsh, exploitative working conditions, typically for very low pay.

sweater

noun

A knitted garment worn over the upper body for warmth, usually pulled over the head.

sweating

noun

The process of releasing sweat through the skin, usually to cool the body.

sweatpants

noun

Loose, comfortable trousers with an elastic or drawstring waist, usually made of soft cotton fleece.

sweats

noun

A matching set of sweatshirt and sweatpants, worn casually or for exercise.

sweatshirt

noun

A loose, long-sleeved top made of soft fleece fabric, worn for comfort or light exercise.

sweatshop

noun

A factory or workshop where employees work long hours for low pay in poor or unsafe conditions.

sweaty

adj

Covered in or damp with sweat.

swede

noun

A large, round root vegetable with yellowish flesh, related to the turnip.

Sweden

name

A Scandinavian country in Northern Europe, officially the Kingdom of Sweden.

Swedish

name

The North Germanic language spoken mainly in Sweden and parts of Finland.

Sweeney

name

An Irish surname, anglicized from Gaelic "Ó Suibhne."

sweeny

noun

An atrophy of the muscles, especially of the shoulder, in horses.

sweep

verb

To clean a surface by brushing dirt or debris away, usually with a broom.

sweeper

noun

A person or machine that cleans by sweeping.

sweeping

adj

Wide-ranging and affecting many things at once.

sweeps

noun

Periods when television ratings are measured to set advertising rates.

sweepstake

noun

A lottery in which the prize or prizes constitute all the money paid by the participants.

sweepstakes

noun

A contest or lottery in which prizes are awarded based on chance, usually at no cost to enter.

sweer

adj

Dull; indolent; lazy.

sweet

adj

Having the taste of sugar; not sour, salty, or bitter.

sweet tooth

noun

A strong liking for sugary food, especially cakes, chocolate and puddings.

sweetbread

noun

The pancreas or thymus gland of an animal, especially a lamb or calf, as food.

sweetbrier

noun

A Eurasian rose (Rosa rubiginosa, syn. Rosa eglanteria), having prickly stems, fragrant leaves, pink flowers, and red hips.

sweeten

verb

To make something taste sweeter, usually by adding sugar or another sweetener.

sweetened

adj

Having had sugar or another sweetener added.

sweetener

noun

A substance, often artificial, used to make food or drink taste sweet.

sweetheart

noun

A term of affection used for a romantic partner or a loved one.

sweetie

noun

An affectionate term for someone dearly loved.

sweetleaf

noun

Any plant of the genus Stevia, from which stevia is extracted.

sweetling

noun

A small, sweet thing.

sweetly

adv

In a kind, gentle, or pleasant way.

sweetness

noun

The quality of tasting sweet.

sweets

noun

British informal term for candy or confectionery.

sweetsome

adj

Marked by sweetness; characteristically sweet

sweetums

noun

An affectionate, informal nickname used for a loved one, child, or pet.

Sweetwater

name

The name of several towns and small communities across the United States.

swell

verb

To grow bigger, especially by filling with fluid or gas.

swellfish

noun

Any plectognath fish that dilates itself, such as the pufferfish.

swellhead

noun

An arrogant or conceited person.

swelling

noun

An area of the body that has become puffy or enlarged, usually from injury or illness.

sweltering

adj

Uncomfortably hot and humid.

Swenson

name

A surname of Scandinavian origin, meaning "son of Sven."

swept

verb

Past tense and past participle of sweep — cleaned or cleared using a brush, or carried along by force.

swerve

verb

To turn suddenly away from a straight path, often to avoid hitting something.

swerving

noun

A sudden or repeated change of direction.

swift

adj

Moving or happening very quickly.

swiftly

adv

In a fast or quick manner.

swiftness

noun

The state of being swift.

swig

verb

To drink something in large gulps, often straight from the bottle or can.

swike

verb

To deceive, cheat; betray.

swill

noun

Kitchen scraps and liquid waste fed to pigs, or by extension, any low-quality food or drink.

swim

verb

To move through water by moving the arms, legs, fins, or tail.

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.

swimwear

noun

Items of clothing appropriate 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.

swinge

verb

To move like a lash; to lash.

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.

swink

verb

To labour, to work hard

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.

switchback

noun

A railway track on a steep slope in a zigzag formation, in which a train travels in a reverse direction at each switch.

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.

swith

adv

Quickly, speedily, promptly.

swither

verb

To burn, scorch, singe.

Switzerland

name

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

swive

verb

To have sex with (someone).

swivel

noun

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

swiving

noun

The act or process of copulating; copulation.

swole

adj

Swollen, enlarged.

swollen

adj

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

swollenness

noun

The state or condition of being swollen.

swoon

verb

To faint or become lightheaded, especially from strong emotion.

swoonsome

adj

overwhelmingly sexually attractive

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.

swop

noun

A fusion of swing and hip-hop dance styles.

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.

swot

verb

To study with effort or determination.

Sy

name

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

sybaritic

adj

Of or having the qualities of a sybarite (“a person devoted to luxury and pleasure”); dedicated to excessive comfort and enjoyment; decadent, hedonistic, self-indulgent.

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.

sycophancy

noun

The fawning behavior of a sycophant; servile flattery; fawningness.

sycophant

noun

Someone who flatters a powerful person constantly in order to gain favour from them.

sycophantic

adj

Excessively eager to please, especially for personal gain; obsequious, flattering.

syd

name

A diminutive of the unisex given name Sydney.

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.

syllabary

noun

A table or list of syllabic letters or syllables.

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.

sylph

noun

An invisible being of the air.

sylphlike

adj

Resembling (that of) a sylph; slender and graceful.

sylvan

adj

Pertaining to the forest, or woodlands.

Sylvester

name

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