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Swell   /swɛl/   Listen
noun
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."
(c)
Increase of force, intensity, or volume of sound. "Music arose with its voluptuous swell."
(d)
Increase of power in style, or of rhetorical force. "The swell and subsidence of his periods."
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." "The gigantic swells and billows of the snow."
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 (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.


verb
Swell  v. t.  (past swelled; past part. swollen; pres. part. swelling)  
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."
2.
To aggravate; to heighten. "It is low ebb with his accuser when such peccadilloes are put to swell the charge."
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  v. i.  (past swelled; past part. swollen; pres. part. swelling)  
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."
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."
9.
To grow upon the view; to become larger; to expand. "Monarchs to behold the swelling scene!"
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."


adjective
Swell  adj.  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)





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Swell" Quotes from Famous Books



... long, troop after troop crossed the river to the island, emerging like shadows from the smoke that seemed to wrap the world,—each with its sickly faces, showing the terrible spread of the pestilence; each helping to swell the great horror that brooded over all, with its tale of the sick and dead at home, and the wild things seen on the way. Band after band the tribes gathered, and when the sun went down the war-chief's ...
— The Bridge of the Gods - A Romance of Indian Oregon. 19th Edition. • Frederic Homer Balch
... circus performers, and theatrical artists, from London and other towns were brought down to the heart of Old Albion to swell the pleasure of the reigning Queen. Continual plays were going on, while horn, fife, bugle and drum lent music to ...
— Shakspere, Personal Recollections • John A. Joyce
... git up here in the headwaters of the Platte until years after, but from what I ketch they had some right stirrin' time in here, 'twixt cattle rustlin' and sheep crowdin'. Ole Jim knows the whole story, but he don't broadcast none." Topping a swell of the meadow lands another stream basin was encountered. "Hit's a little Ranty," explained Landy. "That's a dam downstream aways en the B-line waters a couple o' hundred acres." In these meadows there were cattle—cows and calves and some scrub yearlings. Crossing ...
— David Lannarck, Midget - An Adventure Story • George S. Harney
... far land, I know not where, Ere viol's sigh; or organ's swell, Had made the sons of song aware That music! is a potent spell: A shepherd to a city came, Play'd on his pipe, and rose to fame. He sang of fields, and at each close, ...
— Jasmin: Barber, Poet, Philanthropist • Samuel Smiles
... Loring, so that now the French had but one schooner remaining. General Amherst, after having been some days wind-bound, re-embarked his forces, and proceeded down the lake; but the storm, which had abated, beginning to blow with redoubled fury, so as to swell the waves mountains high, the season for action being elapsed, and winter setting in with the most rigorous severity, he saw the impossibility of accomplishing his design, and was obliged to desist. Returning ...
— The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.II. - From William and Mary to George II. • Tobias Smollett


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