swell (n.)

  1. the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea

    [ Syn: crestless wave ]

  2. a rounded elevation (especially one on an ocean floor)

  3. a crescendo followed by a decrescendo

  4. a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance

    [ Syn: dandy , dude , fop , gallant , sheik , beau , fashion plate , clotheshorse ]

    swell (adj.)

  1. very good; he did a bully job; a neat sports car; had a great time at the party; you look simply smashing

    [ Syn: bang-up , bully , corking , cracking , dandy , great , groovy , keen , neat , nifty , not bad , peachy , slap-up , smashing ]

    swell (v.)

  1. increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity; The music swelled to a crescendo'

  2. become filled with pride, arrogance, or anger; The mother was swelling with importance when she spoke of her son

    [ Syn: puff up ]

  3. expand abnormally; The bellies of the starving children are swelling

    [ Syn: swell up , intumesce , tumefy , tumesce ]

  4. come up (as of feelings and thoughts, or other ephemeral things); Strong emotions welled up; Smoke swelled from it

    [ Syn: well up ]

  5. come up, as of a liquid; Tears well in her eyes; the currents well up

    [ Syn: well ]

  6. cause to become swollen; The water swells the wood'

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.