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