swell
For the verb: "to swell"
| Simple Past: | swelled |
| Past Participle: | swollen, swelled |
Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
swell/swel/
▶verb (swells, swelling, swelled; past part. swollen or swelled)
- 1 become larger or rounder in size, especially as a result of an accumulation of fluid.
- 2 become or make greater in intensity, amount, or volume.
- 1 a full or gently rounded form.
- 2 a gradual increase in sound, amount, or intensity.
■ a welling up of a feeling.
- 3 a slow, regular movement of the sea in rolling waves that do not break.
- 4 a mechanism for producing a crescendo or diminuendo in an organ or harmonium.
- 5 informal, dated a fashionable or stylish person of wealth or high social position.
- 1 excellent; very good.
- 2 archaic smart; fashionable.
– phrases
one's head swells one becomes conceited.
one's head swells one becomes conceited.
– origin OE swellan, of Gmc origin.
'swell' also found in these Oxford entries:
balloon
- belly
- billow
- bloat
- bulge
- contumacious
- contumely
- detumescence
- distend
- engorge
- groundswell
- intumesce
- oedema
- orgasm
- popcorn
- protuberant
- puff
- shutter
- swell box
- swell organ
- swollen
- tumefy
- tumescent
- tumid
- tumour
- tumulus
- turgescent
- turgid
- turgor

