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
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Noun
Nataliia made a pastry swan to celebrate her grandparents, whose surname translates to the name of a wetland bird.—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025 The song becomes a longing ballad to finding the person you’re meant to end up with, like swans in the wild, showing how Zardoya draws specific connections to the topography around her and the feelings that live deep inside her.—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
They're led by a glamorous male mad scientist, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, who swans about in a glittering corset and heels.—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 27 Sep. 2025 The music video, in which Tay swans around a Malibu mansion in a pastel two-piece, was more controversial.—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2023 See All Example Sentences for swan
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Middle High German swan and perhaps to Latin sonus sound — more at sound entry 1
Verb (2)
perhaps euphemism for swear
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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