swathe

1 of 2

noun

ˈswät͟h How to pronounce swathe (audio)
ˈswȯt͟h,
ˈswāt͟h
variants or swath
ˈswät͟h How to pronounce swathe (audio)
ˈswäth,
ˈswȯt͟h,
ˈswȯth
1
: a band used in swathing
2
: an enveloping medium

swathe

2 of 2

verb

ˈswät͟h How to pronounce swathe (audio)
ˈswȯt͟h,
ˈswāt͟h
swathed; swathing

transitive verb

1
: to bind, wrap, or swaddle with or as if with a bandage
2
: envelop
a mountain swathed by clouds

Examples of swathe in a Sentence

Verb The nurse swathed the wounded soldier's leg in bandages. Her neck was swathed in jewels.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Industrially produced peanut butter anchors a creamy sauce swathed in umami. Eric Kim, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024 At Tradewinds Beach Resort, quaint one-bedroom cottages are swathed in colorful hues and covered in tangles of bright bougainvillea. Angela Caraway-Carlton, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024 There’s the 14-seat Jade Bar in the lobby, furnished with velvet sofas and swathed in emerald-color stone. Laura May Todd, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024 The traditional furnishings and decor are swathed in a soothing blue-and-brown-and-gold color scheme. Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 Outside, in true LV fashion, nearby gondolas have been swathed in the brand’s recognizable motif. Samantha Brooks, Vogue, 7 Jan. 2024 Out went the baggy, amorphous robes that had been swathing people for centuries, and in came startlingly lean, body-conscious styles that revealed the silhouette. Ana María Velasco, National Geographic, 17 Jan. 2024 Tuning in to the sensory bristles that swathe their bodies, jumping spiders are able to sense sound waves from distances as far as 10 feet away. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 3 Jan. 2024 Banquettes are swathed in a rich tropical palette of turquoise and corals. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 24 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'swathe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English *swæth; akin to Old English swathian to swathe

Verb

Middle English, from Old English swathian

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of swathe was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near swathe

Cite this Entry

“Swathe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swathe. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

swathe

1 of 2 verb
ˈswät͟h How to pronounce swathe (audio)
ˈswȯt͟h,
ˈswāt͟h
swathed; swathing
1
: to bind, wrap, or swaddle with or as if with a bandage
2

swathe

2 of 2 noun
ˈswät͟h How to pronounce swathe (audio)
ˈswȯt͟h,
ˈswāt͟h
variants or swath
ˈswät͟h,
ˈswäth,
ˈswȯt͟h,
ˈswȯth
: a band used in swathing

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