Main Entry:

¹swell

Pronunciation:

\ˈswel\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

swelled; swelled or swol·len \ˈswō-lən\ ; swell·ing

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English swellan; akin to Old High German swellan to swell

Date:

before 12th century

intransitive verb1 a: to expand (as in size, volume, or numbers) gradually beyond a normal or original limit <the population swelled> b: to become distended or puffed up <her ankle is badly swollen> c: to form a bulge or rounded elevation2 a: to become filled with pride and arrogance b: to behave or speak in a pompous, blustering, or self-important manner c: to play the swell3: to become distended with emotiontransitive verb1: to affect with a powerful or expansive emotion2: to increase the size, number, or intensity of <swell the applicant pool>

synonyms see expand