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 verb1 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 verb1 a: to cross by propelling oneself through water <swim a stream> b: to execute in swimming2: to cause to swim or float

— swim·mer noun