swim

swim

swim¹ [swim]

vi.

swam, swum, swimming [ME swimmen < OE swimman, akin to Ger schwimmen < IE base * swem-, to move vigorously, be in motion > Welsh chwyfio, to move]

1. to move through water by movements of the arms and legs, or of flippers, fins, tail, etc.

2. to move with a smooth, gliding motion, as though swimming

3. to float on the surface of a liquid

4. to be covered or saturated with or as with a liquid

5. to overflow; be flooded [eyes swimming with tears]

vt.

1. to move in or across (a body of water) by swimming

2. to cause to swim or float

3. to perform (a specified stroke) in swimming

n.

1. the act or motion of swimming

2. a period of swimming for sport [a short swim before lunch]

3. a distance swum or to be swum

4. short for SWIM BLADDER

adj.

Informal of or for swimming [swim trunks]

——————

in the swim

conforming to the current fashions, or active in the main current of affairs

swimmable

adj.

swimmer

n.

swim² [swim]

n.

[ME swime < OE swima, akin to Du zwijmen, to faint < IE base * swei-, to bend, turn > SWIFT]

the condition of being dizzy; dizzy spell

vi.

swam, swum, swimming

1. to be dizzy [the excitement made my head swim]

2. to have a hazy, reeling, or whirling appearance [the room swam before me]