Definition of Swell

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Definition of Swell

Swell

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.

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.

To rise or be driven into waves or billows; to heave; as, in tempest, the ocean swells into waves.

To be puffed up or bloated; as, to swell with pride.

To be inflated; to belly; as, the sails swell.

To be turgid, bombastic, or extravagant; as, swelling words; a swelling style.

To protuberate; to bulge out; as, a cask swells in the middle.

To be elated; to rise arrogantly.

To grow upon the view; to become larger; to expand.

To become larger in amount; as, many little debts added, swell to a great amount.

To act in a pompous, ostentatious, or arrogant manner; to strut; to look big.

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.

To aggravate; to heighten.

To raise to arrogance; to puff up; to inflate; as, to be swelled with pride or haughtiness.

To augment gradually in force or loudness, as the sound of a note.

The act of swelling.

Gradual increase.

Increase or augmentation in bulk; protuberance.

Increase in height; elevation; rise.

Increase of force, intensity, or volume of sound.

Increase of power in style, or of rhetorical force.

A gradual ascent, or rounded elevation, of land; as, an extensive plain abounding with little swells.

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.

A gradual increase and decrease of the volume of sound; the crescendo and diminuendo combined; -- generally indicated by the sign.

A showy, dashing person; a dandy.

Having the characteristics of a person of rank and importance; showy; dandified; distinguished; as, a swell person; a swell neighborhood.

Related Definitions:

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Swell Quotations

Let a man find himself, in distinction from others, on top of two wheels with a chain - at least in a poor country like Russia - and his vanity begins to swell out like his tires. In America it takes an automobile to produce this effect.
Leon Trotsky

If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she's late? Nobody.
J. D. Salinger

The rich swell up with pride, the poor from hunger.
Sholom Aleichem

Some days you must learn a great deal. But you should also have days when you allow what is already in you to swell up and touch everything. If you never let that happen, then you just accumulate facts, and they begin to rattle around inside of you.
E. L. Konigsburg

I know only two words of American slang, 'swell' and 'lousy'. I think 'swell' is lousy, but 'lousy' is swell.
J. B. Priestley

The ground swell is what's going to sink you as well as being what buoys you up. These are cliches also, of course, and I'm sometimes interested in how much one can get away with.
Paul Muldoon

I wonder why there is a designated hitter in baseball after all these years? As an experiment, it seemed like a swell enough idea, but you would think the novelty would have worn off by now and everyone would get back to playing baseball.
Jay Mohr

The old, subjective, stagnant, indolent and wretched life for woman has gone. She has as many resources as men, as many activities beckon her on. As large possibilities swell and inspire her heart.
Anna Julia Cooper

We hope that the elected officials will respond positively to a ground swell of letters, phone calls, e-mails and visits from parents. The law clearly states that the responsibility for giving a sound basic education to our children lies with New York State.
Major R. Owens

Twins are usually hailed with delight, because they swell the power of the family, though in some instances they are put to death.
John H. Speke

Swell Translations

swell in Danish is svulme
swell in Dutch is aanzwellen
swell in German is anschwellen, Schwellen, schwellen
swell in Italian is enfiare, frangenti
swell in Portuguese is inchamento
swell in Spanish is rompiente, hincharse

Quotes