swing Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a state of steady vigorous action that is characteristic of an activity
    • the party went with a swing
    • it took time to get into the swing of things
  2. noun mechanical device used as a plaything to support someone swinging back and forth
  3. noun a sweeping blow or stroke
    • he took a wild swing at my head
  4. noun changing location by moving back and forth
    vacillation; swinging.
  5. noun a style of jazz played by big bands popular in the 1930s; flowing rhythms but less complex than later styles of jazz
    jive; swing music.
  6. noun a jaunty rhythm in music
    lilt.
  7. noun the act of swinging a golf club at a golf ball and (usually) hitting it
    golf stroke; golf shot.
  8. noun in baseball; a batter's attempt to hit a pitched ball
    baseball swing; cut.
    • he took a vicious cut at the ball
  9. noun a square dance figure; a pair of dancers join hands and dance around a point between them
  10. verb move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
    • He swung his left fist
    • swing a bat
  11. verb move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner
    sway.
    • He swung back
  12. verb change direction with a swinging motion; turn
    • swing back
    • swing forward
  13. verb influence decisively
    swing over.
    • This action swung many votes over to his side
  14. verb make a big sweeping gesture or movement
    sweep; swing out.
  15. verb hang freely
    drop; dangle.
    • the ornaments dangled from the tree
    • The light dropped from the ceiling
  16. verb hit or aim at with a sweeping arm movement
    • The soccer player began to swing at the referee
  17. verb alternate dramatically between high and low values
    • his mood swings
    • the market is swinging up and down
  18. verb live in a lively, modern, and relaxed style
    • The Woodstock generation attempted to swing freely
  19. verb have a certain musical rhythm
    • The music has to swing
  20. verb be a social swinger; socialize a lot
    get around.
  21. verb play with a subtle and intuitively felt sense of rhythm
  22. verb engage freely in promiscuous sex, often with the husband or wife of one's friends
    • There were many swinging couples in the 1960's

WordNet

Swing intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. swingen, AS. swingan to scourge, to fly, to flutter; akin to G. schwingen to winnow, to swingle, oscillate, sich schwingen to leap, to soar, OHG. swingan to throw, to scourge, to soar, Sw. svinga to swing, to whirl, Dan. svinge. Cf. Swagger, Sway, Swinge, Swink.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Swung ; archaic imperfect Swang ; present participle & verbal noun Swinging
Definitions
  1. To move to and fro, as a body suspended in the air; to wave; to vibrate; to oscillate.
    I tried if a pendulum would swing faster, or continue swinging longer, in case of exsuction of the air. Boyle.
  2. To sway or move from one side or direction to another; as, the door swung open.
  3. To use a swing; as, a boy swings for exercise or pleasure. See Swing, n., 3.
  4. (Naut.) To turn round by action of wind or tide when at anchor; as, a ship swings with the tide.
  5. To be hanged. Colloq. D. Webster.
    He had swung round the circle of theories and systems in which his age abounded, without finding relief. A. V. G. Allen.
Swing transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To cause to swing or vibrate; to cause to move backward and forward, or from one side to the other.
    He swings his tail, and swiftly turns his round. Dryden.
    They get on ropes, as you must have seen the children, and are swung by their men visitants. Spectator.
  2. To give a circular movement to; to whirl; to brandish; as, to swing a sword; to swing a club; hence, colloquially, to manage; as, to swing a business. or, to accomplish
  3. (Mach.) To admit or turn (anything) for the purpose of shaping it; -- said of a lathe; as, the lathe can swing a pulley of 12 inches diameter.
Swing noun
Definitions
  1. The act of swinging; a waving, oscillating, or vibratory motion of a hanging or pivoted object; oscillation; as, the swing of a pendulum.
  2. Swaying motion from one side or direction to the other; as, some men walk with a swing.
  3. A line, cord, or other thing suspended and hanging loose, upon which anything may swing; especially, an apparatus for recreation by swinging, commonly consisting of a rope, the two ends of which are attached overhead, as to the bough of a tree, a seat being placed in the loop at the bottom; also, any contrivance by which a similar motion is produced for amusement or exercise.
  4. Influence of power of a body put in swaying motion.
    The ram that batters down the wall, For the great swing and rudeness of his poise, They place before his hand that made the engine. Shak.
  5. Capacity of a turning lathe, as determined by the diameter of the largest object that can be turned in it.
  6. Free course; unrestrained liberty or license; tendency. "Take thy swing." Dryden.
    To prevent anything which may prove an obstacle to the full swing of his genius. Burke.

Webster 1913