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zwaaien — meaning in English

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English meaning

  • brandish verb To move or swing a weapon back and forth, particularly if demonstrating anger, threat or skill.
  • flourish verb To grow, develop, or succeed vigorously.
  • sway verb To move slowly and rhythmically from side to side.
  • swing verb To move back and forth or in a circular path while hanging from a fixed point.
  • wave noun A moving ridge on the surface of water, especially the sea.
  • waver verb To hesitate or show signs of doubt, especially about a decision or resolve.
  • whisk noun A kitchen tool made of looped wires, used to beat eggs, cream, or batter.

Senses

zwaaien is used for these senses in English:

  • brandish (transitive) To move or swing a weapon back and forth, particularly if demonstrating anger, threat or skill.
  • sway (transitive) To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; to warp.
  • swing (intransitive) To rotate about an off-centre fixed point.
  • wave (transitive, metonymic) To call attention to, or give a direction or command to, by a waving motion, as of the hand; to signify by waving; to beckon; to signal; to indicate.
  • waver (archaic) To sway back and forth, as if about to fall; to reel, to stagger, to totter.
  • whisk (transitive) To move something rapidly and with no warning.

brandish — full definition

  1. verb To move or swing a weapon back and forth, particularly if demonstrating anger, threat or skill.
  2. verb To bear something with ostentatious show.

flourish — full definition

  1. verb To grow, develop, or succeed vigorously.
  2. verb To wave or brandish something in a bold, showy way.
  3. noun A bold, decorative gesture or embellishment.

Related Dutch words