Main Entry: ¹swim

Pronunciation: \ˈswim\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): swam \ˈswam\; swum \ˈswəm\; swim·ming

Etymology: Middle English swimmen, from Old English swimman; akin to Old High German swimman to swim

Date: before 12th century

intransitive verb 1 a : to propel oneself in water by natural means (as movements of the limbs, fins, or tail) b : to play in the water (as at a beach or swimming pool)
2 : to move with a motion like that of swimming : glide <a cloud swam slowly across the moon>
3 a : to float on a liquid : not sink b : to surmount difficulties : not go under <sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish — Daniel Webster>
4 : to become immersed in or flooded with or as if with a liquid <potatoes swimming in gravy>
5 : to have a floating or reeling appearance or sensationtransitive verb 1 a : to cross by propelling oneself through water <swim a stream> b : to execute in swimming
2 : to cause to swim or float

— swim·mer noun