swell
swell /sw'el/ (swells swelling swelled swollen)
The forms swelled and swollen are both used as the past participle.
1 [VERB] V, V to/by n, V n to n
If the amount or size of something swells or if something swells it, it becomes larger than it was before.
The human population swelled, at least temporarily, as migrants moved south...
His bank balance has swelled by £222,000 in the last three weeks...
Offers from other countries should swell the force to 35,000.
= increase
2 [VERB] V, V to n
If something such as a part of your body swells, it becomes larger and rounder than normal.
Do your ankles swell at night?...
The limbs swell to an enormous size.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
Swell up means the same as swell.
When you develop a throat infection or catch a cold the glands in the neck swell up.
3 [VERB] V with n
If you swell with a feeling, you are suddenly full of that feeling. (LITERARY)
She could see her two sons swell with pride.
4 [ADJ]
You can describe something as swell if you think it is really nice. (AM INFORMAL)
I've had a swell time.
5
see also swelling, swollen, swell up
see swell 2
The forms swelled and swollen are both used as the past participle.
1 [VERB] V, V to/by n, V n to n
If the amount or size of something swells or if something swells it, it becomes larger than it was before.
The human population swelled, at least temporarily, as migrants moved south...
His bank balance has swelled by £222,000 in the last three weeks...
Offers from other countries should swell the force to 35,000.
= increase
2 [VERB] V, V to n
If something such as a part of your body swells, it becomes larger and rounder than normal.
Do your ankles swell at night?...
The limbs swell to an enormous size.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
Swell up means the same as swell.
When you develop a throat infection or catch a cold the glands in the neck swell up.
3 [VERB] V with n
If you swell with a feeling, you are suddenly full of that feeling. (LITERARY)
She could see her two sons swell with pride.
4 [ADJ]
You can describe something as swell if you think it is really nice. (AM INFORMAL)
I've had a swell time.
5
see also swelling, swollen, swell up
see swell 2