5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Swell  \Swell\,  v.  t. 
  1.  To  increase  the  size,  bulk,  or  dimensions  of  to  cause  to 
  rise,  dilate,  or  increase;  as  rains  and  dissolving  snow 
  swell  the  rivers  in  spring;  immigration  swells  the 
  population. 
 
  [The  Church]  swells  her  high,  heart-cheering  tone. 
  --Keble. 
 
  2.  To  aggravate;  to  heighten. 
 
  It  is  low  ebb  with  his  accuser  when  such 
  peccadilloes  are  put  to  swell  the  charge. 
  --Atterbury. 
 
  3.  To  raise  to  arrogance;  to  puff  up  to  inflate;  as  to  be 
  swelled  with  pride  or  haughtiness. 
 
  4.  (Mus.)  To  augment  gradually  in  force  or  loudness,  as  the 
  sound  of  a  note. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Swell  \Swell\,  v.  i.  [imp.  {Swelled};  p.  p.  {Swelled}  or 
  {Swollen};  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Swelling}.]  [AS.  swellan  akin  to 
  D.  zwellen  OS  &  OHG.  swellan  G.  schwellen  Icel.  svella, 
  Sw  sv["a]lla.] 
  1.  To  grow  larger;  to  dilate  or  extend  the  exterior  surface 
  or  dimensions,  by  matter  added  within,  or  by  expansion  of 
  the  inclosed  substance;  as  the  legs  swell  in  dropsy;  a 
  bruised  part  swells;  a  bladder  swells  by  inflation. 
 
  2.  To  increase  in  size  or  extent  by  any  addition;  to  increase 
  in  volume  or  force;  as  a  river  swells,  and  overflows  its 
  banks;  sounds  swell  or  diminish. 
 
  3.  To  rise  or  be  driven  into  waves  or  billows;  to  heave;  as 
  in  tempest,  the  ocean  swells  into  waves. 
 
  4.  To  be  puffed  up  or  bloated;  as  to  swell  with  pride. 
 
  You  swell  at  the  tartan,  as  the  bull  is  said  to  do 
  at  scarlet.  --Sir  W. 
  Scott. 
 
  5.  To  be  inflated;  to  belly;  as  the  sails  swell. 
 
  6.  To  be  turgid,  bombastic,  or  extravagant;  as  swelling 
  words  a  swelling  style. 
 
  7.  To  protuberate;  to  bulge  out  as  a  cask  swells  in  the 
  middle. 
 
  8.  To  be  elated;  to  rise  arrogantly. 
 
  Your  equal  mind  yet  swells  not  into  state.  --Dryden. 
 
  9.  To  grow  upon  the  view;  to  become  larger;  to  expand. 
  ``Monarchs  to  behold  the  swelling  scene!''  --Shak. 
 
  10.  To  become  larger  in  amount;  as  many  little  debts  added, 
  swell  to  a  great  amount. 
 
  11.  To  act  in  a  pompous,  ostentatious,  or  arrogant  manner;  to 
  strut;  to  look  big 
 
  Here  he  comes  swelling  like  a  turkey  cock.  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Swell  \Swell\,  n. 
  1.  The  act  of  swelling. 
 
  2.  Gradual  increase.  Specifically: 
  a  Increase  or  augmentation  in  bulk;  protuberance. 
  b  Increase  in  height;  elevation;  rise. 
 
  Little  River  affords  navigation  during  a  swell 
  to  within  three  miles  of  the  Miami.  --Jefferson. 
  c  Increase  of  force,  intensity,  or  volume  of  sound. 
 
  Music  arose  with  its  voluptuous  swell.  --Byron. 
  d  Increase  of  power  in  style,  or  of  rhetorical  force. 
 
  The  swell  and  subsidence  of  his  periods. 
  --Landor. 
 
  3.  A  gradual  ascent,  or  rounded  elevation,  of  land;  as  an 
  extensive  plain  abounding  with  little  swells. 
 
  4.  A  wave,  or  billow;  especially,  a  succession  of  large 
  waves;  the  roll  of  the  sea  after  a  storm;  as  a  heavy 
  swell  sets  into  the  harbor. 
 
  The  swell  Of  the  long  waves  that  roll  in  yonder  bay. 
  --Tennyson. 
 
  The  gigantic  swells  and  billows  of  the  snow. 
  --Hawthorne. 
 
  5.  (Mus.)  A  gradual  increase  and  decrease  of  the  volume  of 
  sound;  the  crescendo  and  diminuendo  combined;  --  generally 
  indicated  by  the  sign. 
 
  6.  A  showy,  dashing  person;  a  dandy.  [Slang] 
 
  {Ground  swell}.  See  under  {Ground}. 
 
  {Organ  swell}  (Mus.),  a  certain  number  of  pipes  inclosed  in  a 
  box,  the  uncovering  of  which  by  means  of  a  pedal  produces 
  increased  sound. 
 
  {Swell  shark}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  small  shark  ({Scyllium 
  ventricosum})  of  the  west  coast  of  North  America,  which 
  takes  in  air  when  caught,  and  swells  up  like  a  swellfish. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Swell  \Swell\,  a. 
  Having  the  characteristics  of  a  person  of  rank  and 
  importance;  showy;  dandified;  distinguished;  as  a  swell 
  person;  a  swell  neighborhood.  [Slang] 
 
  {Swell  mob}.  See  under  {Mob}.  [Slang] 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  swell 
  adj  :  (informal)  very  good;  "a  bully  pulpit";  "a  cool  sports  car"; 
  "had  a  great  time  at  the  party";  "you  look  simply 
  smashing"  [syn:  {bang-up},  {bully},  {cool},  {corking}, 
  {cracking},  {dandy},  {great},  {groovy},  {keen},  {neat}, 
  {nifty},  {not  bad(p)},  {peachy},  {slap-up},  {smashing}] 
  n  1:  the  undulating  movement  of  the  surface  of  the  open  sea  [syn: 
  {crestless  wave}] 
  2:  a  rounded  elevation  (especially  one  on  an  ocean  floor) 
  3:  a  crescendo  followed  by  a  decrescendo 
  4:  a  man  who  is  much  concerned  with  his  dress  and  appearance 
  [syn:  {dandy},  {dude},  {fop},  {gallant},  {sheik},  {beau}, 
  {fashion  plate},  {clotheshorse}] 
  v  1:  increase  in  size,  magnitude,  number,  or  intensity;  "The 
  music  swelled  to  a  crescendo" 
  2:  become  filled  with  pride,  arrogance,  or  anger;  "The  mother 
  was  swelling  with  importance  when  she  spoke  of  her  son" 
  [syn:  {puff  up}] 
  3:  expand  abnormally;  "The  bellies  of  the  starving  children  are 
  swelling"  [syn:  {swell  up},  {distend}] 
  4:  as  of  feelings  and  thoughts,  or  other  ephemeral  things 
  "Strong  emotions  welled  up";  "Smoke  swelled  from  it"  [syn: 
  {well  up}] 
  5:  come  up  as  of  liquids:  "Tears  well  in  her  eyes"  [syn:  {well}] 
  6:  cause  to  become  swollen;  "The  water  swells  the  wood" 

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