swamp Hear it!

swamp definition

swamp (swämp, swômp)

noun

a piece of wet, spongy land that is permanently or periodically covered with water, characterized by growths of shrubs and trees; marsh; bog

Etymology: < dial. var. (or LowG cognate) of ME sompe, akin to MLowG swamp, Goth & OE swamm, fungus, mushroom < IE base *swomb(h)os, spongy, porous > Gr somphos, spongy

adjective

of or native to a swamp

transitive verb

  1. to plunge or sink in a swamp, deep water, etc.
  2. to flood or submerge with or as with water
  3. to overcome or overwhelm; ruin swamped by debts
  4. to sink (a boat) by filling with water
  5. ☆ to make (a path) or clear (an area) by removing underbrush and slash, as in logging

intransitive verb

to become swamped; sink in or as in a swamp

Related Forms:

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