swell
adjective
1. very good
Similar word(s): good, bully, corking, cracking, dandy, great, groovy, keen, neat, nifty, old, peachy, smashing
noun
1. the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea
Definition categories: event, wave
2. a rounded elevation (especially one on an ocean floor)
Definition categories: object, elevation
3. a crescendo followed by a decrescendo
Definition categories: attribute, crescendo
4. a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance
Similar word(s): beau, clotheshorse, dandy, dude, fop, gallant, sheik
verb
1. increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
- The music swelled to a crescendo
Definition categories: change, increase
2. become filled with pride, arrogance, or anger
- The mother was swelling with importance when she spoke of her son
Definition categories: social, act, behave, do
3. expand abnormally
- The bellies of the starving children are swelling
Similar word(s): intumesce, tumefy, tumesce
Definition categories: change, expand
4. come up (as of feelings and thoughts, or other ephemeral things)
- Smoke swelled from it
Definition categories: stative, arise, develop, grow, originate, rise, uprise
5. come up, as of a liquid
Similar word(s): well
Definition categories: motion, rise, surface
6. cause to become swollen
- The water swells the wood
Definition categories: change, grow
Sentences with swell as a verb:
- Rains and dissolving snow swell the rivers in spring.
- The organ music swelled.
- to be swelled with pride or haughtiness
- swelling words; a swelling style
- A cask swells in the middle.