swathe

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h 

variants or swath

ˈswät͟h  ˈswäth 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswȯth

1

: a band used in swathing

2

: an enveloping medium

swathe

2 of 3

verb

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h 

swathed; swathing

transitive verb

1

: to bind, wrap, or swaddle with or as if with a bandage

2

: envelop

a mountain swathed by clouds

swathe

3 of 3

noun (2)

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h 

variant of swath

1

a

: a row of cut grain or grass left by a scythe or mowing machine

b

: the sweep of a scythe or a machine in mowing or the path cut in one course

2

: a long broad strip or belt

3

: a stroke of or as if of a scythe

4

: a space devastated as if by a scythe

Synonyms of swathe

Verb

• wrap
• shroud
• envelop
• enclose
• bosom

Examples of swathe in a Sentence

Verb

The nurse swathed the wounded soldier's leg in bandages.

Her neck was swathed in jewels.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Other restaurants include Coda, another bar swathed in emerald-green hues inspired by records, and Istana, an ode to Malaysian cuisine. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2026

Hewitt shared a carousel of photos to her Instagram on Sunday, featuring baby Scottie in a stroller wagon swathed in a sea-like blue blanket and surrounded by plushie ducks. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Nov. 2026

Miss Traynor—a kind of nightmare version of the Queen of the Night—appears swathed in an enormous, mildewing white dress, its hems nibbled by rubber pig heads. — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2026

These showed an Earth-like planet swathed in an atmosphere perfectly suitable for humans. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English *swæth; akin to Old English swathian to swathe

Verb

Middle English, from Old English swathian

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

swathe

1 of 2 verb

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h

swathed; swathing

1

: to bind, wrap, or swaddle with or as if with a bandage

2

: envelop

swathe

2 of 2 noun

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h

variants or swath

ˈswät͟h, 

ˈswäth, 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswȯth

: a band used in swathing