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| swing [ swing ] |
verb (3rd person present singular swings, present participle swinging, past and past participle swung [ swung ]) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb move to and fro: to move freely from side to side or backwards and forwards, usually hanging from a fixed point, or make something move in this way
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2. transitive and intransitive verb pivot or rotate: to move or turn in a circle or an arc, usually pivoting around a fixed point, or make something move or turn in this way
  The door swung open.
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3. transitive and intransitive verb suspend or hang something: to fix something so that it can swing, or be fixed in this way
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4. transitive and intransitive verb move in curve: to move in a smooth curve, or make something move in this way
The limousine swung into the drive.
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5. intransitive verb walk with swaying motion: to walk with a swaying motion in a relaxed or easy manner
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6. transitive and intransitive verb strike with sweeping blow: to hit or attempt to hit somebody or something with a sweeping blow or stroke
swung wildly at the ball
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7. transitive and intransitive verb ride on swinging seat: to move backwards and forwards on a swinging seat, or make somebody move in such a way by pushing the person or the seat
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8. transitive and intransitive verb fluctuate or vacillate: to change from one feeling or condition to another, sometimes quickly or suddenly, or make something or somebody change in this way
Their mood swung between elation and gloom.
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9. transitive verb arrange or manipulate something: to achieve a desired change or result by using influence, persuasion, or other means
(
informal
)
swing a deal
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10. intransitive verb be hanged for something: to be hanged as punishment for something
(
informal
)
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11. intransitive verb swap sexual partners: to have a number of sexual partners, especially by exchanging them within a group
(
dated informal
)
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12. intransitive verb be lively: to be lively or animated
(
dated informal
)
The party was really swinging by the time we arrived.
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13. intransitive verb be modern and fashionable: to be interested in and involved in modern or fashionable trends
(
dated informal
)
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14. transitive and intransitive verb music play jazz: to play a passage or musical work in big-band jazz music, or be played in this way
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15. transitive and intransitive verb cricket bowl ball with sideways curve: to bowl a ball in such a way that it moves sideways in the air, or move in this way
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16. intransitive verb dance dance swing: to dance the swing
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noun (plural swings) |
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| Definition: |
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1. hanging seat: a seat hung from a frame or branch for somebody to sit on and move backwards and forwards, especially one on which children play
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2. swinging movement: the process of swinging, or a swinging movement
the swing of the pendulum
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3. range of movement: the curve or distance covered by something as it swings
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4. sweeping stroke or blow: a sweeping stroke, blow, or punch
took a swing at the ball
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5. way of swinging: the manner of movement used to swing a bat or club or bowl a ball
practising her golf swing
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6. cricket sideways movement of bowled ball: the sideways movement through the air of a bowled ball
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7. boxing punch from side: a wide punch from the side
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8. shift or fluctuation: a sudden or significant change, especially in the way people think or act
frequent mood swings
a massive swing in popularity towards the younger candidate
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9. up-and-down cyclic changes: the up-and-down cycles of something such as business profits, economic growth, or share prices
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10. steady progression: a steady progression or advance across territory, or through a process, activity, or phase
took a swing through the south of France
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11. music style of jazz music: jazz music of the 1930s and 1940s, suitable for dancing and generally played by big bands
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12. dance lively dance style: lively dancing for couples involving syncopated steps, spins, and jumps, with one partner often swinging and lifting the other off the ground
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| [ Old English swingan 'flog, rush' < Germanic, 'violent circulatory movement'] |
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| swingy adjective |
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get into the swing of things to get into the established rhythm or routine
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go with a swing to be lively and animated
The evening really went with a swing.
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in full swing in vigorous progress
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swings and roundabouts used to indicate that a situation has both advantages and disadvantages, or is sometimes good and sometimes bad
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