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swing |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Swing \Swing\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Swung}; Archaic imp. {Swang}; p. pr & vb n. {Swinging}.] [OE. swingen, AS swingan to scourge, to fly, to flutter; akin to G. schwingen to winnow, to swingle, oscillate, sich schwingen to leap, to soar, OHG. swingan to throw, to scourge, to soar, Sw svinga to swing, to whirl, Dan. svinge. Cf {Swagger}, {Sway}, {Swinge}, {Swink}.] 1. To move to and fro, as a body suspended in the air; to wave; to vibrate; to oscillate. I tried if a pendulum would swing faster, or continue swinging longer, in case of exsuction of the air. --Boyle. 2. To sway or move from one side or direction to another; as the door swung open 3. To use a swing; as a boy swings for exercise or pleasure. See {Swing}, n., 3. 4. (Naut.) To turn round by action of wind or tide when at anchor; as a ship swings with the tide. 5. To be hanged. [Colloq.] --D. Webster. {To swing round the circle}, to make a complete circuit. [Colloq.] He had swung round the circle of theories and systems in which his age abounded, without finding relief. --A. V. G. Allen. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Swing \Swing\, v. t. 1. To cause to swing or vibrate; to cause to move backward and forward, or from one side to the other He swings his tail, and swiftly turns his round. --Dryden. They get on ropes, as you must have seen the children, and are swung by their men visitants. --Spectator. 2. To give a circular movement to to whirl; to brandish; as to swing a sword; to swing a club; hence colloquially, to manage; as to swing a business. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Swing \Swing\, n. 1. The act of swinging; a waving, oscillating, or vibratory motion of a hanging or pivoted object; oscillation; as the swing of a pendulum. 2. Swaying motion from one side or direction to the other as some men walk with a swing. 3. A line cord, or other thing suspended and hanging loose, upon which anything may swing; especially, an apparatus for recreation by swinging, commonly consisting of a rope, the two ends of which are attached overhead, as to the bough of a tree, a seat being placed in the loop at the bottom; also any contrivance by which a similar motion is produced for amusement or exercise. 4. Influence of power of a body put in swaying motion. The ram that batters down the wall, For the great swing and rudeness of his poise, They place before his hand that made the engine. --Shak. 5. Capacity of a turning lathe, as determined by the diameter of the largest object that can be turned in it 6. Free course; unrestrained liberty or license; tendency. ``Take thy swing.'' --Dryden. To prevent anything which may prove an obstacle to the full swing of his genius. --Burke. {Full swing}. See under {Full}. {Swing beam} (Railway Mach.), a crosspiece sustaining the car body, and so suspended from the framing of a truck that it may have an independent lateral motion. {Swing bridge}, a form of drawbridge which swings horizontally, as on a vertical pivot. {Swing plow}, or {Swing plough}. a A plow without a fore wheel under the beam. b A reversible or sidehill plow. {Swing wheel}. a The scape-wheel in a clock, which drives the pendulum. b The balance of a watch. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: swing n 1: a state of steady vigorous action that is characteristic of an activity; "the party went with a swing"; "it took time to get into the swing of things" 2: supports someone swinging back and forth 3: a sweeping blow or stroke; "he took a wild swing at my head" 4: changing location by moving back and forth [syn: {swinging}] 5: a jaunty rhythm in music [syn: {lilt}] 6: the act of swinging a golf club at a golf ball and (usually) hitting it [syn: {golf stroke}, {golf shot}] 7: in baseball; a batter's attempt to hit a pitched ball; "he took a vicious cut at the ball" [syn: {baseball swing}, {cut}] 8: a style of jazz played by big bands popular in the 1930s; flowing rhythms but less complex than later styles of jazz [syn: {swing music}, {jive}] 9: a square dance figure; a pair of dancers join hands and dance around a point between them v 1: move in a curve; "He swung his left fist" 2: move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner; "He swung back" [syn: {sway}] 3: change direction with a swinging motion; turn; "swing back"; "swing forward" 4: influence decisively; "This action swung many votes over to his side" [syn: {swing over}] 5: make a big sweeping gesture or movement [syn: {sweep}, {swing out}] 6: hang freely; "the ornaments dangled from the tree"; "The light dropped from the ceiling" [syn: {dangle}, {drop}] 7: hit or aim at with a sweeping arm movement; "The soccer player began to swing at the referee" 8: change drastically "his mood swings"; "the market is swinging up and down" 9: live in a lively, modern, and relaxed style; "The Woodstock generation attempted to swing freely" 10: be a social swinger; socialize a lot [syn: {get around}]
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