v. i. [ imp. Swelled p. p. Swelled or Swollen p. pr. & vb. n. Swelling. ] [ AS. swellan; akin to D. zwellen, OS. & OHG. swellan, G. schwellen, Icel. svella, Sw. svälla. ] 1. To grow larger; to dilate or extend the exterior surface or dimensions, by matter added within, or by expansion of the inclosed substance; as, the legs swell in dropsy; a bruised part swells; a bladder swells by inflation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To increase in size or extent by any addition; to increase in volume or force; as, a river swells, and overflows its banks; sounds swell or diminish. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To rise or be driven into waves or billows; to heave; as, in tempest, the ocean swells into waves. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To be puffed up or bloated; as, to swell with pride. [ 1913 Webster ]

You swell at the tartan, as the bull is said to do at scarlet. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To be inflated; to belly; as, the sails swell. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To be turgid, bombastic, or extravagant; as, swelling words; a swelling style. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To protuberate; to bulge out; as, a cask swells in the middle. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. To be elated; to rise arrogantly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your equal mind yet swells not into state. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. To grow upon the view; to become larger; to expand. “Monarchs to behold the swelling scene!” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. To become larger in amount; as, many little debts added, swell to a great amount. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. To act in a pompous, ostentatious, or arrogant manner; to strut; to look big. [ 1913 Webster ]

Here he comes, swelling like a turkey cock. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To increase the size, bulk, or dimensions of; to cause to rise, dilate, or increase; as, rains and dissolving snow swell the rivers in spring; immigration swells the population. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ The Church ] swells her high, heart-cheering tone. Keble. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To aggravate; to heighten. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is low ebb with his accuser when such peccadilloes are put to swell the charge. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To raise to arrogance; to puff up; to inflate; as, to be swelled with pride or haughtiness. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mus.) To augment gradually in force or loudness, as the sound of a note. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of swelling. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Gradual increase. Specifically: (a) Increase or augmentation in bulk; protuberance. (b) Increase in height; elevation; rise. [ 1913 Webster ]

Little River affords navigation during a swell to within three miles of the Miami. Jefferson. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) Increase of force, intensity, or volume of sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

Music arose with its voluptuous swell. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) Increase of power in style, or of rhetorical force. [ 1913 Webster ]

The swell and subsidence of his periods. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A gradual ascent, or rounded elevation, of land; as, an extensive plain abounding with little swells. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A wave, or billow; especially, a succession of large waves; the roll of the sea after a storm; as, a heavy swell sets into the harbor. [ 1913 Webster ]

The swell
Of the long waves that roll in yonder bay. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

The gigantic swells and billows of the snow. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mus.) A gradual increase and decrease of the volume of sound; the crescendo and diminuendo combined; -- generally indicated by the sign. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A showy, dashing person; a dandy. [ Slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Ground swell. See under Ground. --
Organ swell (Mus.), a certain number of pipes inclosed in a box, the uncovering of which by means of a pedal produces increased sound. --
Swell shark (Zool.), a small shark (Scyllium ventricosum) of the west coast of North America, which takes in air when caught, and swells up like a swellfish. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having the characteristics of a person of rank and importance; showy; dandified; distinguished; as, a swell person; a swell neighborhood. [ Slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Swell mob. See under Mob. [ Slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. People of rank and fashion; the class of swells, collectively. [ Jocose ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any plectognath fish that dilates itself, as the bur fish, puffer, or diodon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of that which swells; as, the swelling of rivers in spring; the swelling of the breast with pride. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rise to the swelling of the voiceless sea. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A protuberance; a prominence; especially (Med.), an unnatural prominence or protuberance; as, a scrofulous swelling. [ 1913 Webster ]

The superficies of such plates are not even, but have many cavities and swellings. Sir I. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Dandified; stylish. [ Slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A swellfish. [ 1913 Webster ]