swal·low 1 
(swŏlō)
(swŏlō)v. swal·lowed, swal·low·ing, swal·lows
v.tr.
1. To cause (food or drink, for example) to pass through the mouth and throat into the stomach.
2. To put up with (something unpleasant): swallowed the insults and kept on working.
3. To refrain from expressing; suppress: swallow one's feelings.
4. To envelop or engulf: a building that was swallowed up by fire.
5. To consume or use up: relief money that was swallowed by administrative costs.
6. Slang To believe without question: swallowed the alibi.
7. To take back; retract: swallow one's words.
8. To say inarticulately; mumble: The actor swallowed his lines.
v.intr.
To perform the act of swallowing.
n.
1. The act of swallowing.
2. An amount swallowed.
3. Nautical The channel through which a rope runs in a block or a mooring chock.
[Middle English swalowen, from Old English swelgan; see swel- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
swallow·er n.