swell

[[t]swɛl[/t]]

v. swelled, swol•len swelled, swell•ing,

1) pat to enlarge in bulk, as by growth, absorption of fluid, or engorgement

2) pat (of a body part or area) to enlarge abnormally without growth of tissue

3) to rise in waves, as the sea

4) to well up, as a spring or as tears

5) to bulge out, as a sail

6) to grow in amount, degree, force, etc

7) to increase gradually in volume or intensity, as sound

8) to arise and grow within one, as a feeling or emotion

9) to become puffed up with pride

10) to cause to grow in bulk

11) to cause to increase gradually in loudness:

to swell a musical tone[/ex]

12) to cause to bulge out or be protuberant

13) to increase in amount, degree, force, etc

14) to affect with a strong, expansive emotion

15) to puff up with pride

16) pat the act of swelling or the condition of being swollen

17) pat inflation or distention

18) a protuberant part

19) oce a wave, esp. when long and unbroken, or a series of such waves

20) a gradually rising elevation of the land

21) an increase in amount, degree, force, etc

22) a gradual increase in loudness of sound

23)

a) mad a gradual increase and then decrease in musical volume

b) mad the sign (<>) for indicating this

c) mad a device, as in an organ, by which the loudness of tones may be varied

24) a swelling of emotion within one

25) sts Informal.

a) a fashionably dressed person; dandy

b) a socially prominent person

26) inf (of things) stylish; elegant

27) inf (of persons) fashionably dressed or socially prominent

28) inf first-rate; fine

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Etymology: bef. 900; ME (v.), OE swellan, c. OFris swella, OOHGswellan, ON svella; akin to Go ufswalleins pride