swing
(swĭng)v. swung (swŭng), swing·ing, swings
v.intr.1. To move back and forth suspended or as if suspended from above.
2. To hit at something with a sweeping motion of the arm: swung at the ball.
3. To move laterally or in a curve: The car swung over to the curb.
4. To turn in place on or as if on a hinge or pivot.
5. To move along with an easy, swaying gait: swinging down the road.
6. To propel oneself from one place or position to another by grasping a fixed support: swinging through the trees.
7. To ride on a swing.
8. To shift from one attitude, interest, condition, or emotion to another; vacillate.
9. Slang To be put to death by hanging.
10. Music a. To have a subtle, intuitively felt rhythm or sense of rhythm.
b. To play with a subtle, intuitively felt sense of rhythm.
11. Slang a. To be lively, trendy, and exciting.
b. To engage in promiscuous sex.
c. To exchange sex partners. Used especially of married couples.
d. To have a sexual orientation: Which way does he swing?
v.tr.1. To cause to move back and forth, as on a swing.
2. To cause to move in a broad arc or curve: swing a bat; swung the car over.
3. a. To cause to move with a sweeping motion: swinging his arms.
b. To lift and convey with a sweeping motion: swung the cargo onto the deck.
4. To suspend so as to sway or turn freely: swung a hammock between two trees.
5. a. To suspend on hinges: swing a shutter.
b. To cause to turn on hinges: swung the door shut.
6. To cause to shift from one attitude, position, opinion, or condition to another.
7. Informal a. To manage or arrange successfully: swing a deal.
b. To bring around to the desired result: swing an election.
8. Music To play (music) with a subtle, intuitively felt sense of rhythm.
n.1. The act or an instance of swinging; movement back and forth or in one particular direction.
2. The sweep or scope of something that swings: The pendulum's swing is 12 inches.
3. A blow or stroke executed with a sweeping motion of the arm.
4. The manner in which one swings something, such as a bat or golf club.
5. A shift from one attitude, position, or condition to another: a swing to conservatism.
6. Freedom of action: The children have free swing in deciding what color to paint their room.
7. a. A swaying, graceful motion: has a swing to her walk.
b. A sweep back and forth: the swing of a bird across the sky.
8. A course or tour that returns to the starting point: a swing across the state while campaigning.
9. A seat suspended from above, as by ropes, on which one can ride back and forth for recreation.
10. The normal rhythm of life or pace of activities: back in the swing.
11. A steady, vigorous rhythm or movement, as in verse.
12. A regular movement up or down, as in stock prices.
13. Music a. A type of popular dance music developed about 1935 and based on jazz but employing a larger band, less improvisation, and simpler harmonic and rhythmic patterns.
b. A ballroom dance performed to this music.
c. A subtle, intuitively felt rhythmic quality or sense of rhythm.
adj.1. Music Relating to or performing swing: a swing band.
2. Determining an outcome; decisive: the swing vote.
Idiom: in full swing At the highest level of activity or operation.
[Middle English swingen, to beat, brandish, from Old English swingan, to flog, strike, swing.]
swing′y adj.
Synonyms: swing, oscillate, sway, rock2, vibrate, waver
These verbs mean literally to move one way and then another, usually back and forth or to and fro. Some verbs often see figurative use: Swing usually applies to arclike movement of something attached at one extremity and free at the other: The ship's lanterns swung violently in the raging storm. Figuratively, it denotes difficulty to decide or act from being drawn by conflicting purposes or emotions: "She swung between disbelief and dread" (Denise Grady).
Oscillate similarly refers to a steady back-and-forth motion, as that of a pendulum, and also can indicate figurative vacillation: "a king ... oscillating between fear of Rome and desire of independence" (Walter Besant).
Sway suggests the movement of something unsteady, light, or flexible: "thousands of the little yellow blossoms all swaying to the light wind" (W.H. Hudson).
To rock is to swing gently or rhythmically or sway or tilt violently: "The ruins of the ancient church seemed actually to rock and threaten to fall" (Sir Walter Scott).
Vibrate implies quick periodic oscillations; it can also suggest trembling, pulsating, or quivering: "Music, when soft voices die, / Vibrates in the memory" (Percy Bysshe Shelley).
Waver suggests unsteady, uncertain movement: "Through the hard, driving rain the sentinel birches wavered like pale, elongated ghosts" (Melissa Hardy).
It also suggests inconstancy or irresolution of feeling or action: "I have a friend who was reared to believe, and he does. But his faith has wavered" (Dana Tierney).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
swing
(swɪŋ) vb,
swings,
swinging or swung1. to move or cause to move rhythmically to and fro, as a free-hanging object; sway
2. (intr) to move, walk, etc, with a relaxed and swaying motion
3. to pivot or cause to pivot, as on a hinge
4. to move or cause to move in a curve: the car swung around the bend.
5. to move or cause to move by suspending or being suspended
6. to hang or be hung so as to be able to turn freely
7. (intr) slang to be hanged: he'll swing for it.
8. to alter or cause to alter habits, a course, etc
9. (tr) informal to influence or manipulate successfully: I hope he can swing the deal.
10. (foll by: up) to raise or hoist, esp in a sweeping motion
11. (often foll by: at) to hit out or strike (at), esp with a sweeping motion
12. (tr) to wave (a weapon, etc) in a sweeping motion; flourish
13. (Jazz) to arrange or play (music) with the rhythmically flexible and compulsive quality associated with jazz
14. (Jazz) (intr) (of popular music, esp jazz, or of the musicians who play it) to have this quality
15. slang to be lively and modern
16. (intr) slang to swap sexual partners in a group, esp habitually
17. (Cricket) (intr) cricket to bowl (a ball) with swing or (of a ball) to move with a swing
18. (Navigation) to turn (a ship or aircraft) in order to test compass error
19. swing both ways slang to enjoy sexual partners of both sexes
20. swing the lead informal to malinger or make up excuses
n21. the act or manner of swinging or the distance covered while swinging: a wide swing.
22. a sweeping stroke or blow
23. (Boxing) boxing a wide punch from the side similar to but longer than a hook
24. (Cricket) cricket the lateral movement of a bowled ball through the air
25. any free-swaying motion
26. any curving movement; sweep
27. (Other Non-sporting Hobbies) something that swings or is swung, esp a suspended seat on which a person may sit and swing back and forth
28. (Jazz)
a. a kind of popular dance music influenced by jazz, usually played by big bands and originating in the 1930s
b. (as modifier): swing music.
30. (Poetry) prosody a steady distinct rhythm or cadence in prose or verse
31. informal the normal round or pace: get into the swing of things.
32. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a fluctuation, as in some business activity, voting pattern, etc
33. (Economics) a fluctuation, as in some business activity, voting pattern, etc
34. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (as modifier) able to bring about a swing in a voting pattern: swing party.
35. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (as modifier) having a mixed voting history, and thus becoming a target for political election campaigners: a swing state.
36. informal US free scope; freedom of activity
37. chiefly US a circular tour
38. Canadian a tour of a particular area or region
39. Canadian (in the North) a train of freight sleighs or canoes
40. go with a swing to go well; be successful
41. in full swing at the height of activity
42. swings and roundabouts equal advantages and disadvantages
[Old English swingan; related to Old Frisian swinga, Old High German swingan]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
swing
(swɪŋ)
v. swung, swing•ing, v.t. 1. to cause to move to and fro or oscillate, as something suspended from above.
2. to cause to move or turn in alternate directions or in either direction on a fixed point or axis, as a door on hinges.
3. to move (the hand or something held) with an oscillating or rotary movement.
4. to cause to move in a curve: I swung the car into the driveway.
5. to suspend so as to hang freely, as a hammock.
6. Informal. to sway, influence, or manage as desired: to swing a business deal.
7. to change or shift (one's interest, opinion, support, etc.).
8. to play (a piece of music) in the style of swing.
9. to pull or turn (the propeller of an aircraft) by hand, esp. in order to start the engine.
v.i. 10. to move or sway to and fro, as a pendulum or other suspended object.
11. to move to and fro in a swing.
12. to move or turn in alternate directions or in either direction on a fixed point or axis.
13. to move in a curve, as around a corner.
14. to move with a free, swaying motion.
15. to be suspended so as to hang freely, as a hammock.
16. to move by grasping a support with the hands and drawing up the arms.
17. to change or shift one's attention, interest, opinion, etc.
18. to hit at with the hand or something grasped in the hand.
19. Slang. a. to be lively, fashionable, or trendy.
b. to engage uninhibitedly in sexual activities.
c. (esp. of married couples) to exchange partners for sexual activities.
20. Informal. to die by hanging.
n. 21. the act or manner of swinging.
22. the amount or extent of such movement.
23. a curving movement or course.
24. a moving of the body with a free, swaying motion.
25. a blow or stroke with the hand or an object grasped in the hands.
26. a change or shift in attitude, opinion, behavior, etc.
27. a steady, marked rhythm or movement, as of verse.
28. a regular upward or downward movement in the price of a security or in any business activity.
29. freedom of action.
30. active operation; progression: to get into the swing of things.
31. something that is swung or that swings.
32. a seat suspended from above by means of a loop of rope or between ropes or rods, on which one may sit and swing to and fro for recreation.
33. a style of jazz often played by a large dance band and marked by a smooth beat and flowing phrasing.
adj. 34. capable of determining the outcome, as of an election: the swing vote.
Idioms: in full swing, operating at normal capacity; in full operation.
[before 900; Middle English (v.), Old English swingan, c. Old High German swingan]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.