I. ˈswim verb
( swam ˈswam, -aa(ə)m ; also chiefly dialect swimmed ˈswimd ; or swum ˈswəm ; swum also chiefly dialect swam or swimmed ; swimming ; swims )
Etymology: Middle English swimmen, from Old English swimman; akin to Old High German swimman to swim, Old Norse svimma, Gothic swumfsl swimming pool
intransitive verb
1. : to move or propel oneself progressively in water by natural means (as by strokes of the hands and feet or by movements of the fins, flippers, or tail)
2. : to move with a motion like that of swimming : slip or glide smoothly and quietly : float
a cloud swam slowly across the moon
3.
a. : to float on the surface of or rise to the top of a liquid : not sink
oil swims on water
b. : to overcome or surmount difficulties : not go under
sink or swim , live or die, survive or perish — Daniel Webster
4. : to become immersed or flooded : become surrounded or covered or filled with or as if with a liquid
the meat swims in gravy
his heart swam with joy
he swims in riches
5. : to appear to move unsteadily before the eyes : reel
sat down again as the room began to swim crazily around her
6. : to be dizzy : have an unsteady or reeling sensation
feels faint and his head swims
transitive verb
1.
a. : to move over, cover, or cross by propelling oneself through water
swim a stream
swim a mile
b. : to execute (a stroke) in swimming
2.
a. : to cause or compel to swim or float
swim a horse across a river
b. : to make float or permit floating of in or on the surface of a liquid
immerse the eggs in enough water to swim the light ones
3. : to subject (one) to ordeal by water
4. : to bring to a specified state by swimming
5. : to compete with in a swimming match
•
- swim against the stream
II. noun
( -s )
1. : a smooth gliding motion
2. : swim bladder
3. : an act or period of swimming
took a swim in the bay
back from his early morning swim
4. : a temporary forgetfulness, dizziness, or unconsciousness : swoon
5.
a. : a part of a stream or other water frequented by fish
b. : the current trend of affairs
that manufacturers slow to make the design change would be out of the swim
: the thick of fashionable activity — usually used in the phrase in the swim
spent his vacation at a popular resort to be in the swim
6. : a square flat overhanging bow on a barge (as used formerly in the east of England)
III. adjective
: of, concerned with, or used in or for swimming
swim lessons
swim show
swim trunks