[swing] vb swung ; swing.ing [ME, to beat, fling, hurl, rush, fr. OE swingan to beat, fling oneself, rush; akin to OHG swingan to fling, rush] vt (13c) 1 a: to cause to move vigorously through a wide arc or circle "~ an ax" b: to cause to sway to and fro c (1): to cause to turn on an axis (2): to cause to face or move in another direction "~ the car into a side road"
2: to suspend so as to permit swaying or turning
3: to convey by suspension "cranes ~ing cargo into the ship's hold"
4. a (1): to influence decisively "~ a lot of votes" (2): to bring around by influence b: to handle successfully: manage "wasn't able to ~ a new car on his income" "~ a deal"
5: to play or sing (as a melody) in the style of swing music ~ vi 1: to move freely to and fro esp. in suspension from an overhead support
2. a: to die by hanging b: to hang freely from a support
3: to move in or describe a circle or arc: a: to turn on a hinge or pivot b: to turn in place c: to convey oneself by grasping a fixed support "~ aboard the train"
4. a: to have a steady pulsing rhythm b: to play or sing with a lively compelling rhythm; specif: to play swing music
5: to shift or fluctuate from one condition, form, position, or object of attention or favor to another "~ constantly from optimism to pessimism and back --Sinclair Lewis"
6. a: to move along rhythmically b: to start up in a smooth vigorous manner "ready to ~ into action" 7: to hit or aim at something with a sweeping arm movement
8. a: to be lively and up-to-date b: to engage freely in sex syn swing, wave, flourish, brandish, thrash mean to wield or cause to move to and fro or up and down. swing implies regular or uniform movement "swing the rope back and forth". wave usu. implies smooth or continuous motion "waving the flag". flourish suggests vigorous, ostentatious, graceful movement "flourished the winning lottery ticket". brandish implies threatening or menacing motion "brandishing a knife". thrash suggests vigorous, abrupt, violent movement "an infant thrashing his arms about". syn swing, sway, oscillate, vibrate, fluctuate, waver, undulate mean to move from one direction to its opposite. swing implies a movement of something attached at one end or one side "the door suddenly swung open". sway implies a slow swinging or teetering movement "trees swaying in the breeze". oscillate stresses a usu. regular alternation of direction "an osc
[2]swing n (14c) 1: an act or instance of swinging: swinging movement: as a (1): a stroke or blow delivered with a sweeping arm movement "a batter with a powerful ~" (2): a sweeping or rhythmic movement of the body or a bodily part (3): a dance figure in which two dancers revolve with joined arms or hands (4): jazz dancing in moderate tempo with a lilting syncopation b (1): the regular movement of a freely suspended object (as a pendulum) along an arc and back (2): back and forth sweep "the ~ of the tides" c (1): steady pulsing rhythm (as in poetry or music) (2): a steady vigorous movement characterizing an activity or creative work d (1): a trend toward a high or low point in a fluctuating cycle (as of business activity) (2): an often periodic shift from one condition, form, position, or object of attention or favor to another
2. a: liberty of action b (1): the driving power of something swung or hurled (2): steady vigorous advance: driving speed "a train approaching at full ~"
3: the progression of an activity, process, or phase of existence "the work 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
6. a: a curving course or outline b: a course from and back to a point: a circular tour 7: jazz played usu. by a large dance band and characterized by a steady lively rhythm, simple harmony, and a basic melody often submerged in improvisation 8: a short pass in football thrown to a back running to the outside [3]swing adj (1934) 1: of or relating to musical swing "a ~ band" "~ music"
2: that may swing often decisively either way on an issue or in an election "~ voters" "a ~ state"