swan

¹swan

noun \ˈswän\

plural swans

Definition of SWAN

1

plural also swan : any of various large heavy-bodied long-necked mostly pure white aquatic birds (family Anatidae, especially genus Cygnus) that have webbed feet and are related to but larger than the geese

2

: one that resembles or is likened to a swan

3

capitalized : the constellation Cygnus

Illustration of SWAN

Origin of SWAN

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Middle High German swan and perhaps to Latin sonus sound — more at sound

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with SWAN

ban, Bonn, chon, con, conn, dawn, don, Don, drawn, faun, fawn, gone, guan, Jon, khan, maun, mon, on, pan, pawn, prawn, Shan, spawn, wan, yawn, yon, yuan

²swan

intransitive verb

swannedswan·ning

Definition of SWAN

: to wander aimlessly or idly : dally

First Known Use of SWAN

1942

³swan

intransitive verb

swannedswan·ning

Definition of SWAN

dialect

: declare, swear

Origin of SWAN

perhaps euphemism for swear

First Known Use: 1784

Swan

geographical name \ˈswän\

Definition of SWAN

river ab 240 miles (386 kilometers) SW Western Australia flowing W into Indian Ocean

Variants of SWAN

Swan or in its upper course Av·on \ˈa-vən\

swan

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Mute swan (Cygnus olor) and cygnet—Arthur W. Ambler—The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers

Long-necked, heavy-bodied, big-footed waterfowl (genus Cygnus, family Anatidae). Among waterfowl, swans are the largest and fastest, both swimming and flying; at about 50 lbs (23 kg), the mute swan (C. olor) is the heaviest flying bird. Swans dabble in shallows for aquatic plants. Five all-white, black-legged species live in the Northern Hemisphere; a black and a black-necked species live in the Southern Hemisphere. Males (cobs) and females (pens) look alike. Swans mate for life. The cob keeps guard while the pen incubates, on average, six eggs on a heap of vegetation; the young (cygnets) are tended for several months. Their graceful form when swimming has made swans emblems of beauty for centuries.