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# swan

noun (a swan, swans); verb (swan, swans, swanned, swanning — informal, UK)

«swan» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A swan is a large water bird, usually white, with a long curved neck. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swan/#m1)
2. (informal, UK) To swan around or off is to go somewhere in a relaxed, carefree way, often while others are working. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swan/#m2)

### In the lessons

In nature lessons swans are birds that live on rivers and lakes; young swans are cygnets, a male is a cob and a female a pen. In stories, like «The Ugly Duckling», the swan stands for beauty and grace. In British informal speech «swanning off» shows annoyance at someone who enjoys themselves.

### Examples

- Two white swans glided across the lake. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swan/#x1)
- A baby swan is called a cygnet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swan/#x2)
- Black swans live in Australia. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swan/#x3)
- Don't feed swans bread; give them peas or seeds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swan/#x4)
- The ugly duckling grew up to be a beautiful swan. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swan/#x5)
- Swans can be fierce if you go near their nest. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swan/#x6)
- He swanned off to the beach while we cleaned up. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swan/#x7)
- She swans around as if she owns the place. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swan/#x8)

### Note

Plural: swans. Past of the verb: swanned. Safety: swans protect their young and can hurt people who come too close. The verb is informal and British.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «swan» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swan/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«swan» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/swan.html) on Mova free.