/ swɒmp; NAmE swɑːmp/ noun , verb
■ noun
[ C , U ] an area of ground that is very wet or covered with water and in which plants, trees, etc. are growing
SYN marsh :
tropical swamps
► swampy adjective :
swampy ground
■ verb [ vn ] [ often passive ]
1.
~ sb/sth (with sth) to make sb have more of sth than they can deal with
SYN inundate :
The department was swamped with job applications.
In summer visitors swamp the island.
2.
to fill or cover sth with a lot of water
SYN engulf :
The little boat was swamped by the waves.
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: probably ultimately from a Germanic base meaning sponge or fungus.