Illustration of swan
- swan 1
swan
1 of 3noun
ˈswän 
plural swans
1
plural also swan : any of various large heavy-bodied long-necked mostly pure white aquatic birds (family Anatidae, especially genus Cygnus) that have webbed feet and are related to but larger than the geese
2
: one that resembles or is likened to a swan
3
capitalized : the constellation Cygnus
swan
2 of 3verb (1)
swanned; swanning
intransitive verb
: to wander aimlessly or idly : dally
swan
3 of 3verb (2)
swanned; swanning
intransitive verb
dialect
: declare, swear
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Middle High German swan and perhaps to Latin sonus sound — more at sound entry 1
Verb (2)
perhaps euphemism for swear
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
1942, in the meaning defined above
Verb (2)
1784, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing swan
Kids Definition
swan
noun
ˈswän
: a usually white waterbird that has a long neck and large body and is related to but larger than the goose
Geographical Definition
Swan
geographical name
ˈswän
variants or in its upper course Avon
ˈa-vən
river about 240 miles (386 kilometers) long in southwestern Western Australia flowing west into the Indian Ocean
swanning
verb
as in sauntering
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sauntering
- strolling
- ambling
- moseying
- loitering
- lingering
- resting
- goldbricking
- poking
- truanting
- relaxing
- tarrying
- lagging
- malingering
- mucking
- dozing
- messing
- hibernating
- monkeying
- lazing
- piddling
- lounging
- lolling
- loafing
- fooling
- furloughing
- dawdling
- bumming
- footling
- idling
- lazying
- playing
- dallying
- estivating
- trifling
- dillydallying
- droning
- aestivating
- chilling
- fiddling (around)
- kicking back
- puttering (around)
- hanging about
- pottering (around)
- vegging out
- kicking around
- hacking (around)
- goofing (off)
- hanging (around or out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- working
- toiling
- hustling
- laboring
- slaving
- sweating
- grubbing
- plodding
- plugging
- grinding
- humping
- plowing
- drudging
- pegging
- applying
- moiling
- travailing
- buckling (down)
- exerting
- putting out