swing
1. swing \'swin\ \'sw*n\ \'swin-in\ \'swin-*-b*l\ \-ble-\ vb or swung; or
swing.ing [ME swingen to beat, fling, hurl, rush, fr. OE swingan to beat,
fli]ng oneself, rush; akin to OHG swingan to fling, rush 1a: to wield with
a sweep or flourish {~ an axe} 1b: to cause to sway to and fro 1c1: to
cause to turn on an axis 1c2: to cause to face or move in another
direction 2: to suspend so as to permit swaying or turning 3: to convey
by suspension 4a1: to influence decisively {~ a lot of votes} 4a2: to
bring around by influence 4b: to handle successfully : MANAGE 5: to play
or sing (as a melody) in the style of swing music 1: to move freely to and
fro esp. in suspension from an overhead support 2a: to die by hanging 2b:
to hang freely from a support 3: to move in or describe a circle or arc :
3a: to turn on a hinge or pivot 3b: to turn in place 3c: to convey
oneself by grasping a fixed support {~ aboard the tr ain} 4a: to have a
steady pulsing rhythm 4b: to play or sing with a lively compelling rhythm;
specif : to p lay swing music 5: to shift or fluctuate from one condition,
form, position, or object of attention or favor to another 6a: to move
along rhythmically 6b: to start up in a smooth vigorous manner 7: to hit
or aim at something with a sweeping arm movement M mean to wield or cause
to move to and fro or up and down. SWING implies regularity or periodicity
of movement; WAVE usu. implies smooth or continuous motion; FLOURISH
suggests vigorous, ostentatious, graceful movement; BRANDISH implies
threatening or menacing motion; THRASH suggests vigorous, abrupt, violent
movementE, WAVER, UNDULATE mean to move from one direction to its opposite.
SWING implies a movement of something attached at one end or one side; SWAY
implies a slow swinging or teetering movement; OSCILLATE stresses a usu.
rapid alternation of direction; VIBRATE suggests the rapid oscillation of
an elastic body under stress or impact; FLUCTUATE suggests constant
irregular changes of level, intensity, or value; WAVER stresses irregular
motion suggestive of reeling or tottering; UNDULATE suggests a gentle rise
and fall as of a fairly calm sea - swing.able aj SYN syn SWING, WAVE,
FLOURISH, BRANDISH, THRASH SYN syn SWING, SWAY, OSCILLATE, VIBRATE,
FLUCTUAT
2. swing n 1: an act or instance of swinging : swinging movement : as 1a1:
a stroke or blow delivered with a sweeping arm movement 1a2: a sweeping or
rhythmic movement of the body or a bodily part 1a3: a dance figure in
which two dancers revolve with joined arms or hands 1a4: jazz dancing in
moderate tempo with a lilting syncopation 1b1: the regular movement of a
freely suspended object (as a pendulum) alon g an arc and back 1b2: back
and forth sweep {the ~ of the tides} 1c1: steady pulsing rhythm (as in
poetry or music) 1c2: a steady vigorous movement characterizing an
activity or creative work 1d1: a trend toward a high or low point in a
fluctuating cycle (as of busin ess activity) 1d2: an often periodic shift
from one condition, form, position, or object of attention or favor to
another 2a: liberty of action : free scope 2b1: the driving power of
something swung or hurled 2b2: steady vigorous advance : driving speed {a
train approaching at fu ll ~} 3: the progression of an activity, process,
or phase of existence {the wo rk is in full ~} 4: the arc or range through
which something swings 5: something that swings freely from or on a
support; esp : a seat suspended by a rope or chains for swinging to and
fro on for pleasure 6a: a curving course or outline 6b: a course from and
back to a point : a circular tour 7: music (as for a dance band)
characterized by a lively insistent rhythm, a basic melody often submerged
in improvisation, and a collective use of syncopated rhythms - swing aj
Webster's English Dictionary