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Meaning of swallow in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈswɑloʊ/

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  1. Verb

    swallow

    Etymology

    Old English swelgan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zwelgen and German schwelgen

    Definitions

    1. pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking

    Examples

    • « Swallow the raw fish--it won't kill you! »
  2. 2. engulf and destroy

    Examples

    • « The Nazis swallowed the Baltic countries »
  3. 3. enclose or envelop completely, as if by swallowing

    Examples

    • « The huge waves swallowed the small boat and it sank shortly thereafter »
  4. 4. utter indistinctly

    Examples

    • « She swallowed the last words of her speech »
  5. 5. take back what one has said

    Examples

    • « He swallowed his words »
  6. 6. keep from expressing

    Examples

    • « I swallowed my anger and kept quiet »
  7. 7. tolerate or accommodate oneself to

    Examples

    • « I shall have to accept these unpleasant working conditions »
    • « I swallowed the insult »
    • « She has learned to live with her husband's little idiosyncracies »
  8. 8. believe or accept without questioning or challenge

    Examples

    • « Am I supposed to swallow that story? »
  9. Noun

    swallow

    Etymology

    Old English swealwe, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zwaluw and German Schwalbe

    Definitions

    1. a small amount of liquid food

    Examples

    • « a sup of ale »
  10. 2. the act of swallowing

    Examples

    • « one swallow of the liquid was enough »
    • « he took a drink of his beer and smacked his lips »
  11. 3. small long-winged songbird noted for swift graceful flight and the regularity of its migrations

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