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