'Swell' definitions:

Definition of 'swell'

From: WordNet
adjective
Very good; "he did a bully job"; "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(p), peachy, slap-up, swell, smashing]
noun
The undulating movement of the surface of the open sea [syn: swell, crestless wave]
noun
A rounded elevation (especially one on an ocean floor)
noun
A crescendo followed by a decrescendo
noun
A man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance [syn: dandy, dude, fop, gallant, sheik, beau, swell, fashion plate, clotheshorse]
verb
Increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity; "The music swelled to a crescendo"
verb
Become filled with pride, arrogance, or anger; "The mother was swelling with importance when she spoke of her son" [syn: swell, puff up]
verb
Expand abnormally; "The bellies of the starving children are swelling" [syn: swell, swell up, intumesce, tumefy, tumesce]
verb
Come up (as of feelings and thoughts, or other ephemeral things); "Strong emotions welled up"; "Smoke swelled from it" [syn: well up, swell]
verb
Come up, as of a liquid; "Tears well in her eyes"; "the currents well up" [syn: well, swell]
verb
Cause to become swollen; "The water swells the wood"

Definition of 'Swell'

From: GCIDE
  • 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[aum]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. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To rise or be driven into waves or billows; to heave; as, in tempest, the ocean swells into waves. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To be puffed up or bloated; as, to swell with pride. [1913 Webster]
  • You swell at the tartan, as the bull is said to do at scarlet. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To be inflated; to belly; as, the sails swell. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. To be turgid, bombastic, or extravagant; as, swelling words; a swelling style. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. To protuberate; to bulge out; as, a cask swells in the middle. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. To be elated; to rise arrogantly. [1913 Webster]
  • Your equal mind yet swells not into state. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 9. To grow upon the view; to become larger; to expand. "Monarchs to behold the swelling scene!" --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 10. To become larger in amount; as, many little debts added, swell to a great amount. [1913 Webster]
  • 11. To act in a pompous, ostentatious, or arrogant manner; to strut; to look big. [1913 Webster]
  • Here he comes, swelling like a turkey cock. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Swell'

From: GCIDE
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • [The Church] swells her high, heart-cheering tone. --Keble. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To aggravate; to heighten. [1913 Webster]
  • It is low ebb with his accuser when such peccadilloes are put to swell the charge. --Atterbury. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To raise to arrogance; to puff up; to inflate; as, to be swelled with pride or haughtiness. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Mus.) To augment gradually in force or loudness, as the sound of a note. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Swell'

From: GCIDE
  • Swell \Swell\, n.
  • 1. The act of swelling. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Gradual increase. Specifically: (a) Increase or augmentation in bulk; protuberance. (b) Increase in height; elevation; rise. [1913 Webster]
  • Little River affords navigation during a swell to within three miles of the Miami. --Jefferson. [1913 Webster] (c) Increase of force, intensity, or volume of sound. [1913 Webster]
  • Music arose with its voluptuous swell. --Byron. [1913 Webster] (d) Increase of power in style, or of rhetorical force. [1913 Webster]
  • The swell and subsidence of his periods. --Landor. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. A gradual ascent, or rounded elevation, of land; as, an extensive plain abounding with little swells. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • The swell Of the long waves that roll in yonder bay. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
  • The gigantic swells and billows of the snow. --Hawthorne. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. (Mus.) A gradual increase and decrease of the volume of sound; the crescendo and diminuendo combined; -- generally indicated by the sign. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. A showy, dashing person; a dandy. [Slang] [1913 Webster]
  • 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 (Zool.), a small shark (Scyllium ventricosum) of the west coast of North America, which takes in air when caught, and swells up like a swellfish. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Swell'

From: GCIDE
  • Swell \Swell\, a. Having the characteristics of a person of rank and importance; showy; dandified; distinguished; as, a swell person; a swell neighborhood. [Slang] [1913 Webster]
  • Swell mob. See under Mob. [Slang] [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'swell'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Swell'