v., n., & adj.
--v. (past part. swollen or swelled)
1. intr. & tr. grow or cause to grow bigger or louder or more intense; expand; increase in force or intensity.
2 intr. (often foll. by up) & tr. rise or raise up from the surrounding surface.
3 intr. (foll. by out) bulge.
4 intr. (of the heart as the seat of emotion) feel full of joy, pride, relief, etc.
5 intr. (foll. by with) be hardly able to restrain (pride etc.).
--n.
1. an act or the state of swelling.
2 the heaving of the sea with waves that do not break, e.g. after a storm.
3 a a crescendo. b a mechanism in an organ etc. for obtaining a crescendo or diminuendo.
4 colloq. a person of distinction or of dashing or fashionable appearance.
5 a protuberant part.
--adj.
1. esp. US colloq. fine, splendid, excellent.
2 colloq. smart, fashionable.
Phrases and idioms:
swell-box Mus. a box in which organ-pipes are enclosed, with a shutter for controlling the sound-level. swelled (or swollen) head colloq. conceit. swell-organ Mus. a section of an organ with pipes in a swell-box.
Derivatives:
swellish adj.
Etymology: OE swellan f. Gmc