ENGLISH
REFERENCE

swallow

v. · n.
US //ˈswɑɫoʊ// UK //swˈɒləʊ// swal·low
  1. 1 to ingest food or drink (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to move food or drink from your mouth down your throat into your stomach.

    to cause food, liquid, or other substances to pass from the mouth into the stomach via the oesophagus.

    Example

    The pill was quite large, so she had to take a big drink of water to swallow it.

    Example

    Patients with severe throat infections often find it difficult to swallow even liquid nourishment without significant discomfort.
  2. 2 to believe something easily (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to believe a story or an explanation without asking questions, even if it seems unlikely.

    to accept a statement, story, or idea without protest or skepticism.

    Example

    I can't believe he actually swallowed that ridiculous excuse about his car breaking down.

    Example

    The public was not prepared to swallow the government's official explanation for the sudden increase in interest rates.
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  1. 3 to hide an emotion (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to stop yourself from showing a feeling, like pride or anger.

    to suppress or restrain an emotional response or utterance.

    Example

    He had to swallow his pride and ask his parents for a loan.

    Example

    She swallowed her anger and responded to the criticism with a professional, measured tone.
  2. 4 a small bird (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a small bird with long, pointed wings and a tail that looks like a fork.

    a migratory passerine bird of the family Hirundinidae, characterised by a deeply forked tail and graceful flight.

    Example

    We saw a swallow building its nest under the roof of the old barn.

    Example

    The arrival of the first swallow is traditionally regarded in many European cultures as a definitive sign of spring.

  3. 5 an amount of liquid (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the amount of food or drink that you take into your stomach at one time.

    the act of swallowing or the quantity of a substance taken in a single such act.

    Example

    He took a quick swallow of coffee before rushing out the door.

    Example

    After the long hike, a single swallow of cold water felt like the greatest luxury imaginable.
  4. 6 nautical pulley part (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    the opening in a pulley block that a rope passes through.

    the space or opening in a pulley block between the sheave and the shell through which the rope is threaded.

    Example

    The sailor checked the swallow of the block to make sure the rope wasn't stuck.

    Example

    The boatswain noted that the rope was fraying because the swallow of the wooden block had become worn and jagged.

Etymology 1

From Middle English swolwen, from Old English swelgan, from Proto-West Germanic swelgan, from Proto-Germanic swelganą (“to swallow, revel, devour”), from Proto-Indo-European *swelk- (“to gulp”). Cognate with Dutch zwelgen (“to revel, carouse, guzzle”), German schwelgen (“to delight, indulge”), Swedish svälja (“to swallow, gulp”), Icelandic svelgja (“to swallow”), Old English swillan, swilian (“to swill, wash out, gargle”). See also swill. The noun is from Middle English swolow, swolwe, from Old English swelh, swelg (“gulf, chasm”) and ġeswelge (“gulf, chasm, abyss, whirlpool”), both from Proto-West Germanic swelg, swalgi, from Proto-Germanic swelgaz, swalgiz. Cognate with Old English swiliġe (“pit”), Scots swelch, swellie, swallie (“an abyss in the sea, whirpool”), Middle Low German swelch (“whirlpool, eddy”), Dutch zwelg (“gorge, chasm, gullet, throat”), Old Norse svelgr (“whirlpool, current, stream”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English swalwe, swalewe, swalowe, from Old English swealwe, from Proto-West Germanic swalwā, from Proto-Germanic swalwǭ. Cognate with Norwegian and Danish svale, Dutch zwaluw, German Schwalbe, Swedish svala.

Idioms5 entries

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