swallow
5 ENTRIES FOUND:
1
swallow
/ˈswɑːloʊ/
verb
swallows;
swallowed;
swallowing
1
swallow
/ˈswɑːloʊ/
verb
swallows;
swallowed;
swallowing
Britannica Dictionary definition of SWALLOW
1
a
:
to take (something) into your stomach through your mouth and throat
[+ object]
-
He swallowed the grape whole.
[no object]
-
Chew your food well before you swallow.
b
[no object]
:
to move the muscles in your throat as if you are swallowing something often because you are nervous
— sometimes used figuratively
-
I swallowed before answering.
-
The boss said, “Come in.” I swallowed hard and walked in.
-
If she insults you, just swallow hard [=make an effort to control yourself] and don't say anything.
2
[+ object]
a
:
to flow over and cover (something) completely
— often + up
— often used figuratively
-
The wave swallowed up the small vessel.
-
More small companies are being swallowed (up) [=taken over, absorbed] by giant conglomerates.
-
We watched as he was swallowed up by the crowd. [=as he disappeared into the crowd]
b
:
to use up (an amount of money)
— usually + up
-
The cost of childcare swallows up most of her income.
3
[+ object]
informal
:
to accept or believe (something)
-
Her story is pretty hard to swallow.
-
I can usually take criticism, but this is more than I can swallow.
4
[+ object]
:
to not allow yourself to show or be affected by (an emotion)
-
We have to swallow our disappointment/anger about the election and keep trying to make things better.
-
She had to swallow her pride and ask for help.
(a) bitter pill to swallow
2
swallow
/ˈswɑːloʊ/
noun
plural
swallows
2
swallow
/ˈswɑːloʊ/
noun
plural
swallows
Britannica Dictionary definition of SWALLOW
[count]
:
an amount that is swallowed at one time
:
the act of swallowing something
-
She took a swallow of water to wash down the pill.
-
He drank the water in/with one swallow.
3
swallow
/ˈswɑːloʊ/
noun
plural
swallows
3
swallow
/ˈswɑːloʊ/
noun
plural
swallows
Britannica Dictionary definition of SWALLOW
[count]
:
a small bird that has long wings and a deeply forked tail
