1409
synthesize
,Swiss 'chard n [U] CHARD (=a vegetable with large green
leaves)
,Swiss 'cheese n [C;U] a hard pale-yellow cheese with holes
in it, such as GRUYÈRE. Swiss cheese is a popular type of
cheese used in SANDWICHES, especially in the US.
,Swiss Family 'Robinson, the (1813) a novel for children
by the Swiss writer Johann WYSS, about a family who live on
a DESERT ISLAND after their ship sinks. It was made into a
Walt DISNEY film in 1960.
,Swiss 'Guard, the [P] a group of Swiss soldiers in the
Vatican in Rome, whose job is to guard the Pope. They wear
a special colourful uniform.
,swiss 'roll also jelly roll AmE– n [C;U] a cake baked in a thin
piece and then rolled up with a sweet substance (JAM or
cream) inside
,swiss 'steak n AmE a piece of BEEF cooked in tomatoes
(TOMATO)
switch¹ /swɪtʃ/ n 1 an apparatus for stopping or starting the
flow of an electric current, especially one which is moved up
or down with the hand: a light switch 2 a complete, espe-
cially unexpected, change: There's been a switch in our
plans. 3 a small thin stick: a hazel switch
switch² v 1 [+adv/prep;T] to change or exchange, especially
completely or unexpectedly: The wind has switched round
from north to east. | He got tired of teaching and switched to
writing stories. | Let's switch positions. | Wait until the lights
have switched to green. | to switch one's alle-
giance 2 [+obj+adv/prep] to change or move by a switch:
Switch the freezer to the extra cold setting. —>able adj
switch off phr v 1 [;T(= switch sthg. <=> off)] to turn (an electric
light or apparatus) off by means of a switch: Switch off when
you've finished using the electric typewriter. | Switch the
television off. -> see OPEN (USAGE) 2 [I] infml to stop listening
or paying attention: He just switches off when you try to talk
to him.
switch on phr v [;T(= switch sthg. <=> on)] to turn (an electric
light or apparatus) on by means of a switch: 'It doesn't work.'
'Have you switched (it) on?' -> see also SWITCHED-ON; see
OPEN (USAGE)
switch over phr v 1 [+prep] to change completely: She
switched over from supporting the Republicans to supporting
the Democrats. 2 [;T(= switch sthg. <=> over)] especially BrE to
change from one radio or television station to another: I'm
tired of this programme; switch (it) over to the other channel.
Switch trademark a type of system used for paying for goods
and services in the UK, by which customers use a type of
plastic card called a DEBIT CARD, and money is immediately
taken out of their bank account: Do you take Switch? | I'll pay
by Switch.
switch·back /'swɪtʃbæk/ n a road or track going up and
down steep slopes and round sharp bends, such as a moun-
tain road or a railway for amusement at a FAIR
switch·blade /'swɪtʃbleɪd/ n AmE for FLICK KNIFE
switch·board /'swɪtʃbɔːd||-bɔːrd/ n (the people who con-
trol) a central apparatus at which telephone lines are con-
nected and disconnected, for example in an office building:
If you want an outside line, you'll have to ask the
switchboard. | Angry callers jammed the switchboard at the
White House. (=because so many people were telephoning at
the same time) -> compare TELEPHONE EXCHANGE
,switched-'on adj infml, becoming old-fash quick to notice or
become conscious of new ideas, opinions, fashions etc
switch·es /'swɪtʃɪz/ n [P] AmE for POINTS
switch·gear /'swɪtʃgɪər/ n [U] equipment for making elec-
trical connections in a system
Swith-in, Swithun, Saint /'swɪðn/ -> see SAINT SWITH-
IN'S DAY
Swit·zer·land /'swɪtsəlænd||-sər-/ a country in western
Europe with many mountains and lakes, surrounded by
France, Germany, Austria, and Italy. Population: 7,288,010
(2001). Capital: Bern. Switzerland is known for being a NEU-
TRAL country (=one that does not support any side in a war).
It remained neutral in both World War I and World War II,
and it does not belong either to the EU (European Union) or
to the UN (United Nations). It is also a world centre for
banking and the management of money, ãth the film. (=make
chocolate and its cheese, and for making clocks the film don't
-Swiss /swɪs/ adj that all
swiv·el¹ /'swɪvəl/ v -l- BrE || -l- AmE [I;T(ROUND)] to^hes.
(quickly) round (as if) on a central point: She swivelled
round in her chair as I came in.
swivel² n an apparatus joining two parts in such a way that
they can turn independently: a swivel chair (=a chair that
turns) -> see picture at CHAIR
swiz, swizz /swɪz/ n [S] BrE infml something that makes one
feel cheated or disappointed
swiz·zle stick /'swɪzəl ˌstɪk/ n a stick or glass rod for
mixing drinks
swol·len¹ /'swəʊlən/ past participle of SWELL
swollen² adj increased beyond the usual size, often because
of the presence of water or air inside, which is not usually
present: Her foot was very swollen after her accident. | The
swollen river burst its banks.
,swollen 'head BrE || big head AmE —> n [S] too great a
sense of one's own importance: If you keep telling him how
clever he is, he'll get a swollen head. —ed adj
swoon¹ /swuːn/ v [I] 1 lit or humor to experience deep effects of
joy, desire etc, as if fainting (FAINT) usually said of women:
The young girls swooned when they saw their favourite pop
singer. 2 especially old use to lose consciousness; FAINT
swoon² n especially old use a FAINT: He fell down in a swoon from
sheer hunger.
swoop¹ /swuːp/ v [I] 1 to move down suddenly and steeply,
especially to attack: The hawk swooped (down) and seized the
rabbit. 2 [(on)] infml to make a sudden surprise attack: The
police swooped as the gang came out of the bank.
swoop² n a swooping action or movement: 'Police arrest five
in dawn drugs swoop.' (title of newspaper story) -> see also
at one fell swoop (FELL)
swoosh /swuːʃ/ v, n SWISH
swop /swɒp||swɑːp/ v, n SWAP
sword /sɔːd||sɔːrd/ n 1 a weapon with a long sharp metal
blade and a handle, used in former times 2 put to the
sword old use or lit to kill with a sword: All the villagers were
mercilessly put to the sword. 3 they that live by the sword
shall perish by the sword saying from the Bible people who use
violence to achieve things will be defeated finally by vio-
lence 4 be a double-edged sword used in order to say that
a plan, achievement etc that someone hopes will bring them
success could also harm them (used especially in newspa-
pers): The settlement of the dispute could well prove to be a
double-edged sword for the administration, as it removes one
argument for their re-election. | For women, the sexual libera-
tion of the Sixties was a double-edged sword. 5 beat/turn
swords into ploughshares BrE to change to a more peace-
ful life, getting rid of your weapons and using knowledge
and machines of war to make things that improve people's
lives: We shall develop a programme for converting weapon
factories to peaceful production, changing our swords into
ploughshares.
'sword dance n a Scottish dance which includes jumping
over swords laid on the ground —sword dancer n
sword·fish /'sɔːdˌfɪʃ||-'ɔːr-/ n pl. swordfish or swordfishes a
large fish with a long pointed upper jaw like a sword
,sword in the 'stone, the n according to old stories, the
sword called Excalibur which was stuck in a stone and
which would make the person who pulled it out King of
England -> see ARTHURIAN LEGEND
sword of Dam·o·cles /ˌsɔːd əv ˈdæməkliːz||ˌsɔːrd-/ n pl.
swords of Damocles something bad that may happen at
any time (from an ancient Greek story in which a king seats
Damocles under a sword that hangs from a single hair to
show him that rulers have their fears and worries as well as
their power and happiness): The possibility of another illness
hung over his happiness like a sword of Damocles.
sword·play /'sɔːdpleɪ||-'ɔːr-/ n [U] the movement and skill
used in fighting with swords
swords·man /'sɔːdzmæn||-'ɔːr-/ n pl. -men /mǝn/ a (skilled)
fighter with a sword