51Թ

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View synonyms for

swallow

1

[ swol-oh ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to take into the stomach by drawing through the throat and esophagus with a voluntary muscular action, as food, drink, or other substances.

    Synonyms: , , , , , , ,

    Antonyms: ,

  2. to take in so as to envelop; withdraw from sight; assimilate or absorb:

    He was swallowed by the crowd.

    Synonyms: , ,

  3. to accept without question or suspicion; believe; trust.

    Antonyms: ,

  4. to accept without opposition; put up with:

    to swallow an insult.

  5. to accept for lack of an alternative:

    Consumers will have to swallow new price hikes.

  6. to suppress (emotion, a laugh, a sob, etc.) as if by drawing it down one's throat.

    Synonyms: , , , , , , , ,

    Antonyms: ,

  7. to take back; retract:

    to swallow one's words.

  8. to enunciate poorly; mutter:

    He swallowed his words.



verb (used without object)

  1. to perform the act of swallowing.

noun

  1. the act or an instance of swallowing.

    Synonyms: , , , , , ,

  2. a quantity swallowed at one time; a mouthful:

    Take one swallow of brandy.

  3. capacity for swallowing.
  4. Also called crown, throat. Nautical, Machinery. the space in a block, between the groove of the sheave and the shell, through which the rope runs.

swallow

2

[ swol-oh ]

noun

  1. any of numerous small, long-winged passerine birds of the family Hirundinidae, noted for their swift, graceful flight and for the extent and regularity of their migrations. Compare bank swallow ( def ), barn swallow ( def ), martin ( def ).
  2. any of several unrelated, swallowlike birds, as the chimney swift.

swallow

1

/ ˈɒəʊ /

verb

  1. to pass (food, drink, etc) through the mouth to the stomach by means of the muscular action of the oesophagus
  2. often foll by up to engulf or destroy as if by ingestion

    Nazi Germany swallowed up several small countries

  3. informal.
    to believe gullibly

    he will never swallow such an excuse

  4. to refrain from uttering or manifesting

    to swallow one's disappointment

  5. to endure without retaliation
  6. to enunciate (words, etc) indistinctly; mutter
  7. often foll by down to eat or drink reluctantly
  8. intr to perform or simulate the act of swallowing, as in gulping
  9. swallow one's words
    to retract a statement, argument, etc, often in humiliating circumstances
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act of swallowing
  2. the amount swallowed at any single time; mouthful
  3. Also calledcrownthroat nautical the opening between the shell and the groove of the sheave of a block, through which the rope is passed
  4. rare.
    another word for throat gullet
  5. rare.
    a capacity for swallowing; appetite
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

swallow

2

/ ˈɒəʊ /

noun

  1. any passerine songbird of the family Hirundinidae, esp Hirundo rustica ( common or barn swallow ), having long pointed wings, a forked tail, short legs, and a rapid flight hirundine
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈɲǷɱ, noun
  • ˈɲǷɲ, adjective
  • ˈɲǷ-ˌ, adjective
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ɲlǷ·· adjective
  • ɲlǷ· noun
  • un·ɲlǷ·· adjective
  • ܲ·ɲlǷɱ adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of swallow1

First recorded before 1000; Middle English verb swolwen, swalwen, Old English swelgan; cognate with German schwelgen; akin to Old Norse svelgja; Middle English noun swolwe, swoluh, Old English geswelgh “throat, abyss, whirlpool”; akin to Middle Low German swelch, Old High German swelgo “gܳٳٴDz,” Old Norse svelgr “swirl, whirlpool; devourer”

Origin of swallow2

First recorded before 900; Middle English swal(e)we, Old English sweal(e)we; cognate with German Schwalbe, Old Norse svala
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of swallow1

Old English swelgan; related to Old Norse svelga, Old High German swelgan to swallow, Swedish svalg gullet

Origin of swallow2

Old English swealwe; related to Old Frisian swale, Old Norse svala, Old High German swalwa
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Idioms and Phrases

  • bitter pill to swallow
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In the U.S. two-party system, it has swallowed one of the two existing parties, usurping the role of conservatism and exploiting traditional party loyalties.

From

Japan, where the gaming company is based, has been hit with a 24% tariff - a cost which the firm must swallow or pass onto consumers.

From

He's talking about really old-fashioned, 19th century imperialism — wars of aggression and swallowing up smaller countries or less powerful countries.

From

The Westminster bill would not allow doctors to give a lethal dose – rather patients would have to self-administer the drugs, usually by swallowing them.

From

Half an hour after arriving at Wayne's house, I watch him swallow three anti-nausea tablets, designed to minimise the risk of him vomiting the lethal medication he plans to take shortly.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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