swallow

Definitions

1. 1.(Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of swifts which resemble the true swallows in form and habits, as the common American chimney swallow, or swift.
2. 2.(Naut.) The aperture in a block through which the rope reeves. Ham. Nav. Encyc. Swallow plover (Zoöl.), any one of several species of fork-tailed ploverlike birds of the genus Glareola, as G. orientalis of India; a pratincole. -- Swallow shrike (Zoöl.), any one of several species of East Indian and Asiatic birds of the family Artamiidæ, allied to the shrikes but similar to swallows in appearance and habits. The ashy swallow shrike (Artamus fuscus) is common in India. -- Swallow warbler (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of East Indian and Australian singing birds of the genus Dicæum. They are allied to the honeysuckers.
3. 3.To take into the stomach; to receive through the gullet, or esophagus, into the stomach; as, to swallow food or drink. As if I had swallowed snowballs for pills. Shak.
4. 4.To draw into an abyss or gulf; to ingulf; to absorb -- usually followed by up. Milton. The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses. Num. xvi.
5. 5.3. To receive or embrace, as opinions or belief, without examination or scruple; to receive implicitly. Though that story . . . be not so readily swallowed. Sir T. Browne.
6. 6.To engross; to appropriate; -- usually with up. Homer excels . . . in this, that he swallowed up the honor of those who succeeded him. Pope.
7. 7.To occupy; to take up; to employ. The necessary provision of the life swallows the greatest part of their time. Locke.
8. 8.To seize and waste; to exhaust; to consume. Corruption swallowed what the liberal hand Of bounty scattered. Thomson.
9. 9.To retract; to recant; as, to swallow one's opinions. "Swallowed his vows whole." Shak.
10. 10.To put up with; to bear patiently or without retaliation; as, to swallow an affront or insult. See Absorb.
11. 11.To perform the act of swallowing; as, his cold is so severe he is unable to swallow.
12. 12.The act of swallowing.
13. 13.The gullet, or esophagus; the throat.
14. 14.Taste; relish; inclination; liking. [Colloq.] I have no swallow for it. Massinger.
15. 15.Capacity for swallowing; voracity. There being nothing too gross for the swallow of political rancor. Prof. Wilson.
16. 16.As much as is, or can be, swallowed at once; as, a swallow of water.
17. 17.That which ingulfs; a whirlpool. [Obs.] Fabyan.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "swallow" mean?
• What is another word for "swallow"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is swallow.

• What is any one of numerous species of swifts which resemble the true swallows in form and habits, as the common American chimney swallow, or swift called?
• What is to take into the stomach; to receive through the gullet, or esophagus, into the stomach; as, to swallow food or drink. As if I had swallowed snowballs for pills. Shak called?
• What is to draw into an abyss or gulf; to ingulf; to absorb -- usually followed by up. Milton. The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses. Num. xvi called?
• What is 3. To receive or embrace, as opinions or belief, without examination or scruple; to receive implicitly. Though that story . . . be not so readily swallowed. Sir T. Browne called?
• What is to engross; to appropriate; -- usually with up. Homer excels . . . in this, that he swallowed up the honor of those who succeeded him. Pope called?
• What is to occupy; to take up; to employ. The necessary provision of the life swallows the greatest part of their time. Locke called?
• What is to seize and waste; to exhaust; to consume. Corruption swallowed what the liberal hand Of bounty scattered. Thomson called?
• What is to retract; to recant; as, to swallow one's opinions. "Swallowed his vows whole." Shak called?
• What is to put up with; to bear patiently or without retaliation; as, to swallow an affront or insult. See Absorb called?
• What is to perform the act of swallowing; as, his cold is so severe he is unable to swallow called?
• What is taste; relish; inclination; liking. [Colloq.] I have no swallow for it. Massinger called?
• What is capacity for swallowing; voracity. There being nothing too gross for the swallow of political rancor. Prof. Wilson called?
• What is as much as is, or can be, swallowed at once; as, a swallow of water called?
• What is that which ingulfs; a whirlpool. [Obs.] Fabyan called?