SWIM • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Swim

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verb

Swim v. t. (past swam; past part. swum; pres. part. swimming)

1.

To pass or move over or on by swimming; as, to swim a stream. "Sometimes he thought to swim the stormy main."

2.

To cause or compel to swim; to make to float; as, to swim a horse across a river.

3.

To immerse in water that the lighter parts may float; as, to swim wheat in order to select seed.

Swim v. i. (past swam; past part. swum; pres. part. swimming)

1.

To be supported by water or other fluid; not to sink; to float; as, any substance will swim, whose specific gravity is less than that of the fluid in which it is immersed.

2.

To move progressively in water by means of strokes with the hands and feet, or the fins or the tail. "Leap in with me into this angry flood, And swim to yonder point."

3.

To be overflowed or drenched. "Sudden the ditches swell, the meadows swim."

4.

Fig.: To be as if borne or floating in a fluid. "(They) now swim in joy."

5.

To be filled with swimming animals. (Obs.) "(Streams) that swim full of small fishes."

Swim v. i. To be dizzy; to have an unsteady or reeling sensation; as, the head swims.

noun

Swim n.

1.

The act of swimming; a gliding motion, like that of one swimming.

2.

The sound, or air bladder, of a fish.

3.

A part of a stream much frequented by fish. (Eng.)

Swim bladder, an air bladder of a fish.

To be in the swim, to be in a favored position; to be associated with others in active affairs. (Colloq.)

See images of 'Swim'

Etymology of 'Swim'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Swim" Quotes from Famous Books

... the salmon swim about as if playing: they always head toward the current, and this "playing" may be simply due to facing the flood tide. Afterwards they enter the deepest parts of the stream and swim straight up, with few interruptions. Their rate ...

— Scientific American Supplement No. 275 • Various

... budding trees, Made Johnny feel quite gay. He went to swim—the obsequies Are being ...

— The New Pun Book • Thomas A. Brown and Thomas Joseph Carey

... gracious heavens! to suit one of those shrill female screams which more than trump of war or voice of cannon strike panic into the bold heart of man, and unnerve him to the finger ends. 'My dog, my puppy!' she sobbed, 'he'll be drowned, he can't swim! He's coming down stream, tail first, poor fellow! I knew it was Rover! Oh why don't ...

— The Continental Monthly, Vol 2, No 6, December 1862 - Devoted to Literature and National Policy • Various

... Wafer's little party lost in the jungle of Darien in 1681. In attempting to swim across a swollen river with a line, he got into difficulties, became entangled in the line which was tied round his neck, and having also a bag containing 300 Spanish silver dollars on his back, he sank and was swept away. Some time afterwards Wafer ...

— The Pirates' Who's Who - Giving Particulars Of The Lives and Deaths Of The Pirates And Buccaneers • Philip Gosse

... just breaking, and while two of the Indians attended to the fire the other three scattered through the woods in hopes of picking up some unwary bit of game. While they were thus engaged, Donald took a long refreshing swim in the cool waters of the lake. He did not arouse the paymaster until the hunters had returned, bringing a wild turkey and a few brace of pigeons, by which time breakfast was ready. Then, to his dismay, the little man insisted on having a bath in his tub, which proved a very tedious operation, ...

— At War with Pontiac - The Totem of the Bear • Kirk Munroe and J. Finnemore

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