Definition:
- (v. i.) 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.
- (v. i.) 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.
- (v. i.) To rise or be driven into waves or billows; to heave; as, in tempest, the ocean swells into waves.
- (v. i.) To be puffed up or bloated; as, to swell with pride.
- (v. i.) To be inflated; to belly; as, the sails swell.
- (v. i.) To be turgid, bombastic, or extravagant; as, swelling words; a swelling style.
- (v. i.) To protuberate; to bulge out; as, a cask swells in the middle.
- (v. i.) To be elated; to rise arrogantly.
- (v. i.) To grow upon the view; to become larger; to expand.
- (v. i.) To become larger in amount; as, many little debts added, swell to a great amount.
- (v. i.) To act in a pompous, ostentatious, or arrogant manner; to strut; to look big.
- (v. t.) 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.
- (v. t.) To aggravate; to heighten.
- (v. t.) To raise to arrogance; to puff up; to inflate; as, to be swelled with pride or haughtiness.
- (v. t.) To augment gradually in force or loudness, as the sound of a note.
- (n.) The act of swelling.
- (n.) Gradual increase.
- (n.) Increase or augmentation in bulk; protuberance.
- (n.) Increase in height; elevation; rise.
- (n.) Increase of force, intensity, or volume of sound.
- (n.) Increase of power in style, or of rhetorical force.
- (n.) A gradual ascent, or rounded elevation, of land; as, an extensive plain abounding with little swells.
- (n.) 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.
- (n.) A gradual increase and decrease of the volume of sound; the crescendo and diminuendo combined; -- generally indicated by the sign.
- (n.) A showy, dashing person; a dandy.
- (a.) Having the characteristics of a person of rank and importance; showy; dandified; distinguished; as, a swell person; a swell neighborhood.
Compare swell with other words:
boost vs. swell
puffy vs. swell
bugle vs. swell
stell vs. swell
sweal vs. swell
swell vs. swelt
swell vs. swill
shell vs. swell
snell vs. swell
swell vs. well
sell vs. swell
spell vs. swell
dwell vs. swell
smell vs. swell
swell vs. swollen
dash vs. swell
poky vs. swell
detumescence vs. swell
swell vs. turgesce
embillow vs. swell
beal vs. swell
intumesce vs. swell
distensibility vs. swell
distensible vs. swell
enlarge vs. swell
dissolve vs. swell
stretch vs. swell
dumpy vs. swell
bump vs. swell
ebb vs. swell
increase vs. swell
bulge vs. swell
rise vs. swell
swell vs. tumulate
ducky vs. swell
plumper vs. swell
billowy vs. swell
blubber vs. swell
strut vs. swell
redound vs. swell
burgeon vs. swell
surge vs. swell
bustle vs. swell
bloat vs. swell
billow vs. swell
bunch vs. swell
swell vs. wavy
pump vs. swell
pod vs. swell
inflate vs. swell
bladder vs. swell
bilge vs. swell
embiggen vs. swell
bulb vs. swell
bulk vs. swell
chop vs. swell
belly vs. swell
swell vs. upswell
swell vs. toff
dandy vs. swell
dude vs. swell
social vs. swell
standing vs. swell
elegant vs. swell
fancy vs. swell
hillock vs. swell
enclosed vs. swell
division vs. swell
swell vs. volume
crescendo vs. swell
diminuendo vs. swell
swell vs. wind
swell vs. wave
ocean vs. swell
engorge vs. swell
bag vs. swell
distend vs. swell