Swell

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