Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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["a]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. 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. 3. To rise or be driven into waves or billows; to heave; as, in tempest, the ocean swells into waves. 4. To be puffed up or bloated; as, to swell with pride. You swell at the tartan, as the bull is said to do at scarlet. --Sir W. Scott. 5. To be inflated; to belly; as, the sails swell. 6. To be turgid, bombastic, or extravagant; as, swelling words; a swelling style. 7. To protuberate; to bulge out; as, a cask swells in the middle. 8. To be elated; to rise arrogantly. Your equal mind yet swells not into state. --Dryden. 9. To grow upon the view; to become larger; to expand. ``Monarchs to behold the swelling scene!'' --Shak. 10. To become larger in amount; as, many little debts added, swell to a great amount. 11. To act in a pompous, ostentatious, or arrogant manner; to strut; to look big. Here he comes, swelling like a turkey cock. --Shak.
\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. [The Church] swells her high, heart-cheering tone. --Keble. 2. To aggravate; to heighten. It is low ebb with his accuser when such peccadilloes are put to swell the charge. --Atterbury. 3. To raise to arrogance; to puff up; to inflate; as, to be swelled with pride or haughtiness. 4. (Mus.) To augment gradually in force or loudness, as the sound of a note.
\Swell\, n. 1. The act of swelling. 2. Gradual increase. Specifically: (a) Increase or augmentation in bulk; protuberance. (b) Increase in height; elevation; rise. Little River affords navigation during a swell to within three miles of the Miami. --Jefferson. (c) Increase of force, intensity, or volume of sound. Music arose with its voluptuous swell. --Byron. (d) Increase of power in style, or of rhetorical force. The swell and subsidence of his periods. --Landor. 3. A gradual ascent, or rounded elevation, of land; as, an extensive plain abounding with little swells. 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. The swell Of the long waves that roll in yonder bay. --Tennyson. The gigantic swells and billows of the snow. --Hawthorne. 5. (Mus.) A gradual increase and decrease of the volume of sound; the crescendo and diminuendo combined; -- generally indicated by the sign. 6. A showy, dashing person; a dandy. [Slang] {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} (Zo["o]l.), a small shark ({Scyllium ventricosum}) of the west coast of North America, which takes in air when caught, and swells up like a swellfish.
\Swell\, a. Having the characteristics of a person of rank and importance; showy; dandified; distinguished; as, a swell person; a swell neighborhood. [Slang] {Swell mob}. See under {Mob}. [Slang]