Swell

v. i. [imp. SWELLED; p. p. SWELLED (SWOLLEN, or SWOLN, is obsolescent); p. pr. & vb. n. SWELLING.] [A-S. swellan, swillan, O. Sax., O. & H. Ger. swellan, L. Ger. swellen, swillen, D. zwellen, O. Fries. swella, N. H. Ger. schwellen, Icel. svella, Sw. svälla.]

1Sense 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 tumor swells; a bladder swells by inflation.

2Sense 2. To increase in size or extent by any addition; as, a river swells, and overflows its banks.

3Sense 3. To rise or be driven into waves or billows; as, in a tempest, the ocean swells into waves.

4Sense 4. To be puffed up or bloated; as, to swell with pride, or anger.

You swell at the tartan, as the bull is said to do at scarlet. W. Scott.

5Sense 5. To be inflated; to belly; as, swelling sails.

6Sense 6. To be turgid or bombastic; as, swelling words; a swelling style.

7Sense 7. To protuberate; to bulge out; as, a cask swells in the middle.

8Sense 8. To be elated; to rise into arrogance.

Your equal mind yet swells not into state. Dryden.

9Sense 9. To grow upon the view; to become larger. “Monarchs to behold the swelling scene.” Shak.

10Sense 10. To become larger in amount; as, many little debts added, swell to a great amount.

11Sense 11. To act in a pompous, ostentatious, or arrogant manner; to strut; to look big. “Swelling like a turkey-cock.” Shak.

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, and cause floods.

2Sense 2. To aggravate; to heighten.

It is low ebb with the accuser when such peccadilloes are put to swell the charge. Atterbury.

3Sense 3. To raise to arrogance; as, to be swelled with pride or haughtiness.

4Sense 4. (Mus.) To augment in force or loudness, as the sound of a note.

n. 1. The act of swelling.

2Sense 2. Gradual increase; as, (a.) Augmentation in bulk; protuberance. (b.) Elevation; rise;—said of height. (c.) Force; intensity; power;—said in reference to sound.

Music arose with its voluptuous swell. Byron.

(d.) Increase of power in style, or increase of rhetorical force. “The swell and subsidence of his periods.” Landor.

3Sense 3. A gradual ascent or elevation of land; as, an extensive plain abounding with little swells.

4Sense 4. A wave or billow; especially, a succession of large waves; as, a heavy swell sets into the harbor.

The swell Of the long waves that roll in yonder bay. Tennyson.

5Sense 5. The waves or fluctuation of the sea after a storm.

6Sense 6. (Mus.) A gradual increase and decrease of the volume of sound; the crescendo and diminuendo combined;—generally indicated thus ⟨musical symbol⟩.

7Sense 7. A showy, dashing, boastful person. Dickens.

Organ swell (Mus.), a certain number of pipes inclosed in a box, the uncovering of which produces increased sound. By means of a pedal, this box may be gradually opened, causing a corresponding increase of force.