swan Hear it!

swan¹ Definition

swan (swän, swôn)

noun

  1. 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
  2. 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

n.

aquatic bird, trumpeter, whooper; see bird 1.

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

  • whooper: We did not see the whooper swan, which has been breeding there.
  • trumpeter: Trumpeter Swans are well adapted for the harsh environments in which they sometimes live.
  • roast: Instead pictures of tables laden with roast swan, lambs ' tails stew and Gloucestershire Royal Pie come to mind.

Browse dictionary entries near swan

  1. swampy
  2. swampland
  3. swamper
  4. swamp gas
  5. swamp fever
  6. swamp buggy
  7. swamp
  8. swami
  9. swam
  10. swallowwort
  1. swan dive
  2. swan's-down
  3. swan song
  4. swan-upping
  5. Swanee
  6. swang
  7. swanherd
  8. swank
  9. swanky
  10. swannery