[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/swell/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / swell # swell verb (swell, swells, swelled, swollen or swelled, swelling); noun (a swell — waves; swelling); adjective (swell — old-fashioned US slang: great) «swell» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. To get bigger, rounder or fuller, often because of injury, water or air (My ankle swelled up). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swell/#m1) 2. To grow in number, size, loudness or strength (The crowd swelled). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swell/#m2) 3. A swell: the long, smooth rise and fall of waves in the sea. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swell/#m3) 4. (old-fashioned American) Excellent, very nice (That's swell!). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swell/#m4) 5. A feeling growing strong inside you (a swell of pride). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swell/#m5) ### In the lessons In first aid: an injury like a sprain or a bee sting can make the body swell; rest, ice, compression and raising it help reduce swelling. In science, wood and seeds swell when they take in water; rivers swell after heavy rain and can flood. In beach safety, a big swell means large waves and dangerous currents — listen to lifeguards. Phrases: swell up, swollen ankle, ocean swell, swell with pride. ### Examples - My finger swelled up after the bee sting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swell/#x1) - Put ice on your ankle to stop it swelling. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swell/#x2) - The river swelled after days of heavy rain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swell/#x3) - Dried beans swell when you soak them in water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swell/#x4) - There's a big swell today, so the beach is closed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swell/#x5) - Her heart swelled with pride when she won. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swell/#x6) - «Gee, that's swell!» said the boy in the old film. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swell/#x7) - Affrighted though she was, Wendy swelled with pride. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swell/#x8) ### Note Past participle: «swollen» (my eye is swollen) is more common as an adjective; «swelled» is also used. Noun: swelling (a bump on the body). If swelling comes with trouble breathing, get emergency help — it may be an allergic reaction. ## In Jewish tradition In Numbers it describes the effect of the bitter water on a woman who had broken her marriage vow. In Deuteronomy it says the Israelites' feet did not swell in the desert. **Interpretation.** The bitter water ritual (sotah) was a test of faithfulness. The unswollen feet are read as a miracle showing God's care in the wilderness. ### Examples - Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. (Torah DEU.8.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/swell/#x1) - and this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, and make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to fall away'; and the woman shall say: 'Amen, Amen.' (Torah NUM.5.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/swell/#x2) - Yea, forty years didst Thou sustain them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not. (Writings NEH.9.21, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/swell/#x3) ### Note Past participle: «swollen» (my eye is swollen) is more common as an adjective; «swelled» is also used. Noun: swelling (a bump on the body). If swelling comes with trouble breathing, get emergency help — it may be an allergic reaction. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «swell» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swell/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«swell» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/swell.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «swell» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/swell/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«swell» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/swell.html) on Mova free.