swell

swell¹ [swel] v past tense swelled past participle swollen [ˈswəulən US ˈswou-]

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1¦(size)¦

2¦(amount/number)¦

3 swell with pride/anger etc

4¦(shape)¦

5¦(sound)¦

6¦(sea)¦

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[: Old English; Origin: swellan]

1.) ¦(SIZE)¦

[i]also swell up

to become larger and rounder than normal - used especially about parts of the body

→↑swollen

▪ Her ankle was already starting to swell.

▪ The window frame was swollen shut.

2.) ¦(AMOUNT/NUMBER)¦ [I and T]

to increase in amount or number

swell to

▪ The crowd swelled to around 10,000.

▪ The river was swollen with melted snow.

swell the ranks/numbers of sth

(=increase the number of people in a particular situation)

▪ Large numbers of refugees have swollen the ranks of the unemployed.

3.) swell with pride/anger etc

to feel very proud, angry etc

▪ His heart swelled with pride as he watched his daughter collect her prize.

4.) ¦(SHAPE)¦ [I and T]

also swell out

to curve or make something curve

▪ The wind swelled the sails.

5.) ¦(SOUND)¦

[i]literary to become louder

▪ Music swelled around us.

6.) ¦(SEA)¦

to move suddenly and powerfully upwards

→↑groundswell

swell ²

swell² [i]n

1.) [singular]

the way the sea moves up and down

▪ The sea wasn't rough, but there was a heavy swell (=large movements of the water) .

2.) [singular]

a situation in which something increases in number or amount

swell of

▪ the growing swell of anti-government feeling

▪ a swell of pride

3.) [singular]

an increase in sound level, especially in music

= ↑crescendo

4.) [singular]

the roundness or curved shape of something

▪ the firm swell of her breasts

5.) old-fashioned a fashionable or important person

swell ³

swell³ adj AmE old-fashioned

very good

= ↑great

▪ You look swell!