swish Definition
swish (swis̸h)
intransitive verb
- to move with a sharp, hissing sound, as a cane swung through the air
- to move with a light, brushing sound, as skirts in walking
- Basketball to pass through the basket without hitting the hoop or backboard: said of a ball
Etymology: echoic
transitive verb
- to cause to swish
- to move (liquid), esp. in the mouth, with a light, hissing or gurgling sound swish the mouthwash around
- Basketball to cause (a ball) to swish
noun
- a hissing or rustling sound
- a movement, etc. that makes this sound
- ☆ Slang an effeminate male homosexual: a term of contempt and hostility
adjective
- Brit., Informal fashionable
- ☆ Slang of, like, or for effeminate male homosexuals: a term of contempt and hostility
swish Synonyms
swish Usage Examples
Object
- tail: Typical reports describe the cat as being about 2 ' high, 3 ' long with along swishing tail.
- sound: The turbine is silent except for a swishing sound in strong winds, says Stephens.
- noise: Take note of fizzing sounds, swishing noise, faint sparks, white particles.
Converse of object
hear: She could hear the swish of Jamie's skis behind her.
Preposition: around
mouth: Sports drinks should be consumed as quickly as possible, preferably with a straw and not be held or swished around the mouth.
Modifies a noun
- fx: Page 11 1 [ Inuyasha rushes forward drawing Tetsusaiga. ] fx Inuyasha swish fx Tetsusaiga shing Inuyasha Kagome!
- apartment: Swish Apartment Ideally situated, within communal gardens, this modern, first floor apartment has been finished to a very high standard.
- hotel: These days it's courting a more sophisticated crowd with swish new high-quality hotels.
- restaurant: For instance, what happens if you decide to go to a swish expensive restaurant?
- product: Phil comments, " I have used Swish products for years.
- site: Trouble is I don't use the software anymore and can't be bothered to maintain an index of Swish sites.
Modifying Another Word
- rather: Checked out my laptop with a rather swish Toshiba video projector for tomorrows meeting.
- very: The site also has a very swish database of jobs.
- about: At one stage, I could hear water swishing about, and, when I went to investigate, it was the horses drinking!
- really: The changing rooms are really swish and there are free drinks and papers in the lounge bit.
- back: Keep which ones you like and swish back the others.
Followed by an intransitive particle
around: Why don't you just put on a dress and swish around?
Followed by a transitive particle
down: We swish down 5th Avenue in her chauffeur-driven car, peering out of tinted windows at the streets.
Used with adjective complement
look: Well, we'll have a ' Links ' set with 2 presenters looking very swish.
Noun used with modifier
fx: This is definitely... 5 [ View of something in the mist ahead. ] fx air swish Inuyasha { off } !
Browse dictionary entries near swish
- swishy ›
- Swiss ›
- Swiss chard ›
- Swiss cheese ›
- Swiss franc ›
- Swiss Guards ›
- Swiss Market Index ›
- Swiss steak ›
- Swissy ›
- switch ›

