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| swell [ swel ] |
verb (past swelled, past participle swelled or swol·len [ swṓlən ], present participle swell·ing, 3rd person present singular swells) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb increase in size: to become, or make something, larger, fuller, or rounder, or expand in size or shape, usually as a result of pressure from within
  the wind swelled the sails
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2. intransitive verb medicine become larger than normal: to increase in size temporarily, typically as a result of injury, infection, or other medical condition
My ankles had swelled in the heat.
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3. transitive and intransitive verb increase in quantity: to increase something in number or amount, usually by adding to it, or increase in this way
new members to swell the ranks of the choir
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4. transitive and intransitive verb increase in degree: to make something stronger or more intense, or become stronger or more intense
could feel indignation swelling inside her
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5. transitive and intransitive verb music increase and decrease in loudness: in music, to grow gradually louder and softer in turn, or gradually increase and decrease volume in this way
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6. transitive and intransitive verb fill with emotion: to be filled with a strong feeling or emotion, or cause somebody's heart or soul to be filled with a strong feeling or emotion
His heart swelled with pride.
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7. intransitive verb undulate on surface: to rise and fall on the surface of something in long large waves
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noun (plural swells) |
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| Definition: |
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1. undulation of sea surface: the rising and falling movement of a large area of the sea as a long wave travels through it without breaking
forecasting rough seas, a heavy swell, and strong winds
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2. round shape: the full, round shape of something
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3. bulge: a bulge or protuberance
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4. increasing of size: an increase in size, fullness, or roundness
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5. increasing of number: an increase in number, amount, or degree
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6. process of swelling: the process or an instance of swelling
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7. gentle slope: a low hill or gentle slope
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8. music crescendo then decrescendo: a gradual increase in the loudness of music followed by a gradual decrease, or the sign indicating this
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9. music
Same as swell box
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10. fashionable person: a fashionably and expensively dressed person
(
dated informal
)
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11. somebody of high status: a very important person, especially in society or politics
(
dated informal
)
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adjective |
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| Definition: |
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1. good: very good
(
dated
)
did a swell job
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2. grand: grand, stylish, or fashionable
(
informal dated
)
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| [ Old English swellan< Germanic] |
