swan¹ Definition
swan (swän, swôn)
noun
- pl. swans or swan any of several large-bodied, web-footed waterfowl (family Anatidae, esp. genus Cygnus) with a long, graceful neck and, typically, pure white feathers: swans are graceful swimmers and strong fliers
- a person who resembles or is thought to resemble a swan in some way; sometimes, specif., a great poet or singer
Etymology: ME < OE, akin to Ger schwan < IE base *swen-, to sound, sing > L sonus, sound
intransitive verb
Brit., Informal to move slowly or majestically, with a calm, serene air
swan¹ Idioms
the Swan
the constellation Cygnus
swan² Definition
☆ swan (swän, swôn)
intransitive verb
Dialectal to swear: usually in the exclamation I swan!, used to express surprise, impatience, etc.
Etymology: < ? Brit dial. Is' wan, I'll warrant
swan Synonyms
swan Usage Examples
Possessives
neck: Not only are they gold, they are also elegantly sculpted into swans ' necks and lions ' heads.
Converse of object
- nest: In the second incident last Tuesday, two swan eggs were destroyed when a dog attacked a nesting swan at Wood Pond.
- feed: Paddy feeds the swans on a very cold Friday 24th Feb 2006.
- die: Man comes and tills the earth and lies beneath, And after many a summer dies the swan.
- rescue: The loch is now home to 25 rescued swans and has become a sanctuary.
Adjective modifier
- mute: The dead bird is thought to be a mute swan.
- injured: Swan 800 x 594 116K An injured swan is taken across the River Almond to a waiting veterinary surgeon.
- dead: Poultry within two miles of the location of the dead swans are also to be tested.
- wild: We went in the hide and saw lots of wild swans.
- infected: Infected wild swans have been found in the countries.
- black: The mooring comes complete with some exotic birds - three black swans.
Modifies a noun
- Cygnus: Loch Leven and Lough Neagh, for example, each support over 20,000 waterfowl, including large numbers of wintering whooper swan Cygnus cygnus.
- neck: Swan neck This is a short flexible mount with a conventional tungsten bulb.
- sanctuary: They were then put in the back of a van and taken to the swan sanctuary in Egham to be cleaned and rehabilitated.
- song: Day 22 - Monday 25th August The swan song of the fringe.
- boss: Swans boss John Hollins again threw in the kids - over half the starting XI aged 21 or under.
- keeper: In July, the Queen´s swan keeper sails up the River Thames, from London Bridge to Henley.
Noun used with modifier
Browse dictionary entries near swan
- ‹ swampy
- ‹ swampland
- ‹ swamper
- ‹ swamp gas
- ‹ swamp fever
- ‹ swamp buggy
- ‹ swamp
- ‹ swami
- ‹ swam
- ‹ swallowwort
- swan dive ›
- swan's-down ›
- swan song ›
- swan-upping ›
- Swanee ›
- swang ›
- swanherd ›
- swank ›
- swanky ›
- swannery ›

