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   swell

   /swɛl/

   verb

   • 1. (especially of a part of the body) become larger or rounder in size, typically as a result of an accumulation of fluid: "her bruised knee was already swelling up" Similar expandbulgedistendbecome distendedinflatebecome inflateddilatebecome bloatedbloatblow up/outpuff upballoonfattenfill outtumefyintumesceOpposite shrinkcontract
   • ▪ be intensely affected or filled with a particular emotion: "she felt herself swell with pride" Similar be filledbe full ofbe burstingbrimoverflowbe overcome
   • 2. become or make greater in intensity, number, amount, or volume: "the low murmur swelled to a roar" Similar grow largergrow greatergrowenlargeincreaseexpandrisewaxmountescalateacceleratestep upaccumulatesurgemultiplyproliferatesnowballmushroomskyrocketmake largermake greaterenlargeincreaseincrease in size/scopeexpandaugmentboostbuild upacceleratestep upmultiplytop upgrow loudgrow louderbecome louderamplifyintensifyheightenOpposite decreasewanedecreasequieten

   noun

   • 1. a full or gently rounded shape or form: "the soft swell of her breast"
   • 2. a gradual increase in amount, intensity, or volume: "a huge swell in the popularity of one-day cricket" Similar increaserisegrowthexpansionescalationaccelerationsurgestepping-upproliferationsnowballingmushroomingskyrocketingOpposite decreasedip
   • ▪ a welling up of a feeling: "a swell of pride swept over George"
   • 3. a slow, regular movement of the sea in rolling waves that do not break: "there was a heavy swell" Similar billowbillowingundulationsurgesurgingwaverollrollingbulgebulgingrushdelugemovement
   • 4. a mechanism for producing a crescendo or diminuendo in an organ or harmonium.
   • 5. a fashionable or stylish person of wealth or high social position: informal, dated "a crowd of city swells"

   adjective

   • 1. excellent; very good: informal, dated North American "you're looking swell"
   • ▪ smart; fashionable: informal, dated North American "a swell boulevard"

   adverb

   • 1. excellently; very well: informal, dated North American "everything was just going swell"

   Word Origin Old Englishswellan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to German schwellen. Current senses of the noun date from the early 16th century; the informal adjectival use derives from noun swell (sense 5 of the noun) (late 18th century).

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • S

     1

   • W

     4

   • E

     1

   • L

     1

   • L

     1

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