Definition: swell
Source: WordNet (r) 1.7
swell
adj : (informal) very good; "a bully pulpit"; "a neat sports car";
"had a great time at the party"; "you look simply
smashing" [syn: bang-up, bully, corking, cracking,
dandy, great, groovy, keen, neat, nifty, not
bad, peachy, slap-up, smashing]
n 1: the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea [syn:
crestless wave]
2: a rounded elevation (especially one on an ocean floor)
3: a crescendo followed by a decrescendo
4: a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance
[syn: dandy, dude, fop, gallant, sheik, beau,
fashion plate, clotheshorse]
v 1: increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity; "The
music swelled to a crescendo"
2: become filled with pride, arrogance, or anger; "The mother
was swelling with importance when she spoke of her son"
[syn: puff up]
3: expand abnormally; "The bellies of the starving children are
swelling" [syn: swell up, intumesce, tumefy]
4: as of feelings and thoughts, or other ephemeral things;
"Strong emotions welled up"; "Smoke swelled from it" [syn:
well up]
5: come up, as of liquids: "Tears well in her eyes" [syn: well]
6: cause to become swollen; "The water swells the wood"
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Swell \Swell\, v. t.
1. To increase the size, bulk, or dimensions of; to cause to
rise, dilate, or increase; as, rains and dissolving snow
swell the rivers in spring; immigration swells the
population.
[The Church] swells her high, heart-cheering tone.
--Keble.
2. To aggravate; to heighten.
It is low ebb with his accuser when such
peccadilloes are put to swell the charge.
--Atterbury.
3. To raise to arrogance; to puff up; to inflate; as, to be
swelled with pride or haughtiness.
4. (Mus.) To augment gradually in force or loudness, as the
sound of a note.
Swell \Swell\, v. i. [imp. Swelled; p. p. Swelled or Swollen; p. pr. & vb. n. Swelling.] [AS. swellan; akin to D. zwellen, OS. & OHG. swellan, G. schwellen, Icel. svella, Sw. sv["a]lla.] 1. To grow larger; to dilate or extend the exterior surface or dimensions, by matter added within, or by expansion of the inclosed substance; as, the legs swell in dropsy; a bruised part swells; a bladder swells by inflation. 2. To increase in size or extent by any addition; to increase in volume or force; as, a river swells, and overflows its banks; sounds swell or diminish. 3. To rise or be driven into waves or billows; to heave; as, in tempest, the ocean swells into waves. 4. To be puffed up or bloated; as, to swell with pride. You swell at the tartan, as the bull is said to do at scarlet. --Sir W. Scott. 5. To be inflated; to belly; as, the sails swell. 6. To be turgid, bombastic, or extravagant; as, swelling words; a swelling style. 7. To protuberate; to bulge out; as, a cask swells in the middle. 8. To be elated; to rise arrogantly. Your equal mind yet swells not into state. --Dryden. 9. To grow upon the view; to become larger; to expand. ``Monarchs to behold the swelling scene!'' --Shak. 10. To become larger in amount; as, many little debts added, swell to a great amount. 11. To act in a pompous, ostentatious, or arrogant manner; to strut; to look big. Here he comes, swelling like a turkey cock. --Shak.
Swell \Swell\, n.
1. The act of swelling.
2. Gradual increase. Specifically:
(a) Increase or augmentation in bulk; protuberance.
(b) Increase in height; elevation; rise.
Little River affords navigation during a swell
to within three miles of the Miami. --Jefferson.
(c) Increase of force, intensity, or volume of sound.
Music arose with its voluptuous swell. --Byron.
(d) Increase of power in style, or of rhetorical force.
The swell and subsidence of his periods.
--Landor.
3. A gradual ascent, or rounded elevation, of land; as, an
extensive plain abounding with little swells.
4. A wave, or billow; especially, a succession of large
waves; the roll of the sea after a storm; as, a heavy
swell sets into the harbor.
The swell Of the long waves that roll in yonder bay.
--Tennyson.
The gigantic swells and billows of the snow.
--Hawthorne.
5. (Mus.) A gradual increase and decrease of the volume of
sound; the crescendo and diminuendo combined; -- generally
indicated by the sign.
6. A showy, dashing person; a dandy. [Slang]
Ground swell. See under Ground.
Organ swell (Mus.), a certain number of pipes inclosed in a
box, the uncovering of which by means of a pedal produces
increased sound.
Swell shark (Zo["o]l.), a small shark (Scyllium
ventricosum) of the west coast of North America, which
takes in air when caught, and swells up like a swellfish.
Swell \Swell\, a. Having the characteristics of a person of rank and importance; showy; dandified; distinguished; as, a swell person; a swell neighborhood. [Slang] Swell mob. See under Mob. [Slang]
