swell

swell1 [ swel ] (past tense swelled; past participle swelled or swol|len [ `swoulən ] ) verb *

1. ) swell or swell up intransitive to become larger than normal, usually because of liquid collecting inside:

My ankles tend to swell when I travel by air.

Moisture causes the timber to swell.

a ) transitive to make something larger than normal:

be swollen with something: The river was swollen with rain.

2. ) intransitive to increase in amount or number:

Attendance figures have swollen to 37,000 this season.

a ) transitive to make something increase:

Vacationers swell the local population in summer.

3. ) intransitive LITERARY to become gradually louder:

The shouts swelled to a roar.

4. ) intransitive or transitive MAINLY LITERARY someone who swells with PRIDE, JOY, etc. feels extremely proud or happy

swell someone's coffers

to increase the amount of money an organization has

swell the ranks

to increase the number of people in a group:

Soldiers leave the army, only to end up swelling the ranks of the homeless.

,swell `up phrasal verb intransitive

same as SWELL1 1:

Her injured face was swelling up.

swell

swell 2 [ swel ] noun

1. ) count or uncount usually singular the movement of the waves in the ocean:

a heavy swell (=large rough waves)

2. ) singular an increase in something such as a sound or feeling:

a swell of protest/support

3. ) singular MAINLY LITERARY the round shape of something:

the swell of her belly

swell

swell 3 [ swel ] adjective AMERICAN OLD-FASHIONED

very good