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
Usually left on guests' beds during turndown service, the fabric sculptures can range from simple swans and bunnies to elaborate elephants, monkeys, or even sea creatures.—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025 Stars swan onto a stage to present an award; a list of nominees plays; a winner is announced; a speech is given.—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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 This season reaches its pinnacle of camp with a visit from Oscar Wilde himself (Jordan Sebastian Waller), who swans through a crowd of Manhattan elite dropping droll asides after the premiere of his first play, Vera; or, The Nihilists.—EW.com, 27 Oct. 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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