n.
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English swalowen, from Old English swelgan; akin to Old High German swelgan to swallow
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 : to take through the mouth and esophagus into the stomach
2 : to envelop or take in as if by swallowing : ABSORB < swallow the financial loss> <watch night swallow the valley>
3 : to accept without question, protest, or resentment < swallow an insult> <a hard story to swallow >
4 : TAKE BACK , RETRACT <had to swallow my words>
5 : to keep from expressing or showing : REPRESS < swallow ed my anger>
6 : to utter (as words) indistinctly
intransitive verb
1 : to receive something into the body through the mouth and esophagus
2 : to perform the action characteristic of swallowing something especially under emotional stress
– swal · low · able \ ' swä-l ō - ə -b ə l \ adjective
– swal · low · er \ ' swä-l ə -w ə r \ noun