swell

Universal Words verb, noun, adjective verb (swelled or, swelled, swelled) 1 [V] ~ (up) to become bigger or rounder: Her arm was beginning to swell up where the bee had stung her. * Bacteria can cause gums to swell and bleed. * Cook the lentils for 20 minutes until they swell and soften. 2 ~ (sth) (out) to curve or make sth curve outwards: [V] The sails swelled (out) in the wind. * [VN] The wind swelled (out) the sails. 3 ~ (sth) (to sth) to increase or make sth increase in number or size: [VN] Last year's profits were swelled by a fall in production costs. * Crowds of commuters were swelled by Christmas shoppers. * We are looking for more volunteers to swell the ranks (= increase the number) of those already helping. * [V] Membership has swelled to over 20000. 4 [V] (of a sound) to become louder: The cheering swelled through the hall. 5 [V] ~ (with sth) to be filled with a strong emotion: to swell with pride / joy * Her heart swelled as she turned to face him. seealsoSWOLLEN noun 1 [C,usually sing.] the movement of the sea when it rises and falls without the waves breaking: The boat was caught in a heavy (= strong) swell. 2 [sing.] (written) the curved shape of sth, especially a part of the body: the firm swell of her breasts 3 [sing.] a situation in which sth increases in size, number, strength, etc: a growing swell of support * a swell of panic / pride seealsoGROUNDSWELL 4 [sing.] (of music or noise) a gradual increase in the volume of sth SYNCRESCENDO 5 (old-fashioned, informal) an important or fashionable person adjective (old-fashioned, AmE, informal) very good, enjoyable, etc: We had a swell time. \