swimming
**swim·ming** /'swɪmɪŋ/ n [U] the act or sport of one who swims: *Swimming is a good form of exercise.* | *a swimming club* | *wearing a swimming cap* ➔ see REFEREE (USAGE)
**'swimming bath** also **swimming baths** *pl* — *n* BrE a public SWIMMING POOL usually indoors ➔ see also BATHS; see BATH (USAGE)
**'swimming costume** BrE || **bathing suit, swimsuit** AmE — *n* a single piece of clothing worn by women for swimming ➔ compare BIKINI, SWIMMING TRUNKS
**swim·ming·ly** /'swɪmɪŋli/ *adv* old-fash infml easily and successfully: *Everything's going swimmingly.*
**'swimming pool** also **pool** *n* a large usually outdoor container filled with water, and used for swimming
**'swimming trunks** also **bathing suit, swimsuit** *n* [P] a piece of clothing, like very short or legless trousers, worn by men for swimming ➔ compare SWIMMING COSTUME; see PAIR (USAGE)
**swimsuit** /'swɪmsu:t, -sju:t||-su:t/ *n* a piece of clothing worn for swimming, either by a man or a woman; SWIMMING TRUNKS, a SWIMMING COSTUME, or a BIKINI
**swim·wear** /'swɪmweər/ *n* [U] clothing suitable for swimming: *Swimwear sale now on!* (=sign in a shop)
**Swin·burne, Al·ger·non** /'swɪnbɜ:n||-'bɜ:rn,  'ældʒənən||-dzɚ-/ (1837-1909) a British poet best known for *Atalanta in Corydon*, a TRAGEDY in ancient Greek style
**swin·dle¹** /'swɪndl/ *v* [T][out of] to cheat (someone), especially so as to get money illegally: *She swindled him out of his life savings.* (-took them by cheating) ---*dler* *n*
**swindle²** *n* an example of swindling: *a big tax swindle*
**swine** /swaɪn/ *n* **1** (*pl.* **swine**) old use or *tech* a pig: *swine fever* **2** (*pl.* **swine** or **swines**) *slang* an extremely unpleasant person: *Leave her alone, you (filthy) swine!*
**swine·herd** /'swaɪnhɜ:rd||-hɜ:rd/ *n* *lit* or old use a man or boy who looks after pigs
**swing¹** /swɪŋ/ *v* **swung** /swʌŋ/ **1** [I;T] to (cause to) move backwards and forwards or round and round from a fixed point above: *The sign was swinging in the wind.* | *The children were swinging on a rope.* | *The soldiers marched along, swinging their arms.* **2** [I+adv/prep;T+obj+adv/prep] to (cause to) move in a smooth curve: *A large black car swung into the drive.* | *She swung the car through the gates.* | *The heavy gate swung shut.* **3** [I+adv/prep;T+obj+adv/prep] to (cause to) move from one point to another by a movement through the air: *They swung (themselves) down from the top of the wall.* | *The cranes swing the big crates onto the ship.* **4** [I+adv/prep;T+obj+adv/prep] to (cause to) turn quickly round: *He swung round and said, 'Why are you following me?'* | (*fig.*) *This will swing public opinion against the government.* **5** [I+adv/prep] to walk rapidly and actively with light steps: *He went swinging down/along the street whistling a little tune.* **6** [I] *infml* to play with a pleasant exciting beat: *That music/band really swings.* **7** [T] *infml* to arrange or complete successfully, often by slightly dishonest means: *I'll see if I can swing it for my wife to come with me on that business trip.* | *to swing a business deal* **8** [I(for)] old-fash *infml* to be killed by hanging by the neck, as a punishment: *He'll swing for this!* **9** **swing the lead** /led/ BrE *infml* *derog* to avoid doing one's work or duty, especially by pretending to be ill
**swing²** *n* **1** [C] a swinging movement: *He took a swing at the tree with his axe.* **2** [C] (in GOLF) the swinging movement of the arms and body used when DRIVING (=hitting the ball): *I spent months correcting my swing.* **3** [C] (a ride on) a seat, especially for children, which is fixed from above by ropes or chains and on which one can swing backwards and forwards: *The children are playing on the swings in the park.* **4** [C] a noticeable change, especially from one opinion to another: *There has been a big swing in public opinion.* | *a swing of five per cent to/against the Socialists* **5** [S] (in music) a strong regular beat: *I like music that goes with a swing.* | (*fig.*) *The party was really going with a swing.* (=was enjoyable, lively, and successful) **6** [U] JAZZ music of the 1930s and 1940s with a strong regular beat, usually played by a big band **7** **get into the swing of (sthg)** to get used to doing something and get good at doing it or enjoy doing it: *It's difficult work, but once you get into the swing of it, you'll find you can do it quickly.* **8** **in full swing** having reached a very active stage: *The party was in full swing when the police burst in.* **9** **what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts** (often shortened to **swings and roundabouts**) BrE *infml* the disadvantages of a particular situation or course of action are balanced by the advantages: *It's a bit of a swings and roundabouts situation.*
**'swing door** *n* a door which can be pushed open from inside or out and which swings backwards and forwards after use
**swinge·ing** /'swɪndʒɪŋ/ *adj* BrE (especially of arrangements concerning money) very severe in force, degree etc: *The government has announced swingeing cuts (=reductions) in public spending.*
**swin·ger** /'swɪŋər/ *n* *infml*, becoming old-fash **1** a lively fashionable person who leads an active social life, especially going to a lot of parties, NIGHTCLUBS etc **2** someone who behaves in a sexually free way
**swing·ing** /'swɪŋŋ/ *adj* *infml* **1** full of life and fun: *a swinging party* **2** fashionably free and modern, especially in sexual life: *the swinging sixties*
**swinging 'sixties, the** the years 1960-69 in Britain and the US, especially in the sense of the freedom young people felt to have sex, wear unusual clothes, and discuss new ideas ➔ see Feature on page A8
**Swing Low, Sweet 'Chariot** a SPIRITUAL (=a religious song) from the southern states of the US, originally sung by black SLAVES working in the fields. It is now often sung at RUGBY matches by English supporters.
**swing·om·e·ter** /swɪŋ'ɒmɪtər||-'aɪm-/ *n* BrE *infml* a DEVICE made from a pointer and a DIAL which is used on television during elections to show the changing support for a political party: *The swingometer shows a ten per cent swing to the Liberal Democrats.*
**'swing set** *n* a large frame which holds several SWINGS and sometimes a SLIDE, often built on children's playgrounds, and sometimes in a family garden
**'swing-wing** *adj* [A] (of an aircraft) having wings that can be swung forwards for low speeds and backwards for higher speeds
**swin·ish** /'swaɪnɪʃ/ *adj* extremely unpleasant or difficult to deal with: *a swinish person/problem* | *swinish behaviour* —**ly** *adv* —**ness** *n* [U]
**swipe¹** /swaɪp/ *n* **1** a forceful sweeping stroke or blow: *She made a swipe at the mosquito.* **2** an attack in words: *In her latest article, she takes a swipe at the fashionable critics.*
**swipe²** *v* **1** [I(at);T] to (try to) hit hard, especially with an uncontrolled swing of the arm: *She swiped at his head, but he got out of the way.* **2** [T] *infml* to steal: *Who's swiped my pen?*
**'swipe card** *n* a special plastic card that you slide through a machine in order to get into a building or open a door
**swirl¹** /swɜ:rl||swɜ:rl/ *v* [I+adv/prep;T+obj+adv/prep] to move quickly with twisting turns: *The water swirled about his feet/swirled down the plughole.* | *The leaves were swirled away on the wind.*
**swirl²** *n* **1** a swirling movement: *She danced with a swirl of her skirt.* **2** a twisting mass (of water, dust etc); EDDY: *Swirls of smoke rose through the trees.*
**swish¹** /swɪʃ/ *v* **1** [I+adv/prep;T] to (cause to) move quickly through the air making a sharp whistling noise: *The whip swished through the air.* | *The cow swished its tail.* **2** [I] (especially of clothes) to make a soft sound in movement: *Her silk dress swished as she passed.* —**swish** *n*: *The horse gave a swish of its tail.*
**swish²** *adj* *infml* fashionable and expensive: *a very swish restaurant*
**Swiss¹** /swɪs/ *adj* from Switzerland or connected with Switzerland: *Her husband is Swiss.* | *Swiss cheese*
**Swiss²** *n* **the Swiss** the people of Switzerland
**Swiss 'army knife** *n* `a small knife that folds into its handle and typically contains two blades and several other tools, such as a can opener, a bottle opener, and scissors. The handle is usually red with a white cross on it, like the flag of Switzerland. ➔ see picture at KNIFE