swɪŋ v. & n. --v. (past
and past part. swung) 1 intr. & tr.
move or
cause to move
with a to-and-fro or curving
motion, as of an
object attached at
one end and
hanging free at
the other. 2 intr. & tr. a
sway. b
hang so as to be free to sway. c
oscillate or cause to oscillate. 3 intr. & tr.
revolve or cause to revolve. 4 intr. move by gripping
something and leaping etc. (swung
from tree to tree). 5 intr. go with a
swinging gait (swung
out of the room). 6 intr. (foll. by round) move
round to the
opposite direction. 7 intr.
change from one
opinion or mood to
another. 8 intr. (foll. by at)
attempt to
hit or punch. 9 a intr. (also swing it)
play music with a swing
rhythm. b tr. play (a tune) with swing. 10 intr. colloq. a be
lively or up to date;
enjoy oneself. b be
promiscuous. 11 intr. colloq. (of a party etc.) be lively,
successful, etc. 12 tr.
have a
decisive influence on (esp. voting etc.). 13 tr. colloq. deal with or
achieve;
manage. 14 intr. colloq. be executed by hanging. 15 Cricket a intr. (of the ball)
deviate from a
straight course in the
air. b tr. cause (the ball) to do
this. --n. 1 the
act or an
instance of swinging. 2 the motion of swinging. 3 the
extent of swinging. 4 a swinging or
smooth gait or rhythm or
action. 5 a a
seat slung by ropes or chains etc.
for swinging on or
in. b a spell of swinging on this. 6 an
easy but
vigorous continued action. 7 a
jazz or
dance music with an easy
flowing rhythm. b the
rhythmic feeling or
drive of this music. 8 a discernible change in opinion,
esp. the
amount by
which votes or points scored etc. change from one
side to another. øswing-boat a boat-shaped swing at fairs. swing-bridge a bridge
that can be
swung to one side to
allow the passage of ships. swing-door a
door able to
open in
either direction and close
itself when released. swing the lead
Brit. colloq.
malinger;
shirk one's
duty. swings and roundabouts a
situation affording no
eventual gain or
loss (from the phr.
lose on the swings
what you make on the roundabouts). swing
shift US a
work shift from
afternoon to
late evening. swing-wing an
aircraft wing that can move from a right-angled to a swept-back
position. swung
dash a dash (°) with
alternate curves. øøswinger n. (esp. in
sense 10 of v.). [OE swingan to
beat f. Gmc]