Logo
Search icon

swing

/ˈswɪŋ/

noun

Meaning

  • The manner in which something is swung.

    "Door swing indicates direction the door opens."

  • The sweep or compass of a swinging body.

  • A line, cord, or other thing suspended and hanging loose, upon which anything may swing.

  • A hanging seat in a children's playground, for acrobats in a circus, or on a porch for relaxing.

  • A dance style.

  • The genre of music associated with this dance style.

  • The amount of change towards or away from something.

  • Sideways movement of the ball as it flies through the air.

  • Capacity of a turning lathe, as determined by the diameter of the largest object that can be turned in it.

  • In a musical theater production, a performer who understudies several roles.

  • A basic dance step in which a pair link hands and turn round together in a circle.

  • Free course; unrestrained liberty.

  • Influence or power of anything put in motion.

  • A type of hook with the arm more extended.

verb

Meaning

  • To rotate about an off-centre fixed point.

    "The plant swung in the breeze."

  • To dance.

  • To ride on a swing.

    "The children laughed as they swung."

  • To participate in the swinging lifestyle; to participate in wife-swapping.

  • To hang from the gallows.

  • (of a ball) to move sideways in its trajectory.

  • To fluctuate or change.

    "It wasn't long before the crowd's mood swung towards restless irritability."

  • To move (an object) backward and forward; to wave.

    "He swung his sword as hard as he could."

  • To change (a numerical result); especially to change the outcome of an election.

  • To make (something) work; especially to afford (something) financially.

    "If it’s not too expensive, I think we can swing it."

  • To play notes that are in pairs by making the first of the pair slightly longer than written (augmentation) and the second shorter, resulting in a bouncy, uneven rhythm.

  • (of a bowler) to make the ball move sideways in its trajectory.

  • To move one's arm in a punching motion.

  • In dancing, to turn around in a small circle with one's partner, holding hands or arms.

    ""to swing one's partner", or simply "to swing""

  • To admit or turn something for the purpose of shaping it; said of a lathe.

    "The lathe can swing a pulley of 12 inches diameter."

  • To put (a door, gate, etc.) on hinges so that it can swing or turn.

  • To turn round by action of wind or tide when at anchor.

    "A ship swings with the tide."