swan

swan
n. & v.
—n.
1 a large water-bird of the genus Cygnus etc., having a long flexible neck, webbed feet, and in most species snow-white plumage.
2 literary a poet.
—v.intr. (swanned, swanning) (usu. foll. by about, off, etc.) colloq. move or go aimlessly or casually or with a superior air.
Phrases and idioms:
swan-dive US = swallow-dive (see SWALLOW(2)). swan-neck a curved structure shaped like a swan's neck. Swan of Avon literary Shakespeare. swan-upping Brit. the annual taking up and marking of Thames swans.
Derivatives:
swanlike adj. & adv.
Etymology: OE f. Gmc

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • SWAN — bezeichnet ein australisches Kriegsschiff im Zweiten Weltkrieg, siehe HMAS Swan (U74) eine Sloop Klasse der Royal Navy, siehe Black Swan Klasse (Sloop) eine finnische Werft, siehe Nautor’s Swan, sowie eine Yacht dieses Herstellers, siehe Swan 48… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Swan — bezeichnet ein australisches Kriegsschiff im Zweiten Weltkrieg, siehe HMAS Swan (U74) eine Sloop Klasse der Royal Navy, siehe Black Swan Klasse (Sloop) eine finnische Werft, siehe Nautor’s Swan, sowie Yachtmodelle dieses Herstellers, siehe auch… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Swan — (sw[o^]n), n. [AS. swan; akin to D. zwaan, OHG. swan, G. schwan, Icel. svanr, Sw. svan, Dan. svane; and perhaps to E. sound something audible.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of large aquatic birds belonging to {Cygnus}, {Olor}, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Swan 48 — Foto / Zeichnung technische Daten LüA: 14,83 m LWL: 12,50 m Breite: 4,32 m …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • swan — O.E. swan, from P.Gmc. *swanaz (Cf. O.S. swan, O.N. svanr, M.Du. swane, Du. zwaan, O.H.G. swan, Ger. Schwan), probably lit. the singing bird, from PIE root *swon /*swen to sing, make sound (see SOUND (Cf. sound) …   Etymology dictionary

  • swan — swan; swan·i·mote; swan·nery; swan·ny; swan·sea; swan·skin; swan·mote; …   English syllables

  • swan — swan1 [swän, swôn] n. [ME < OE, akin to Ger schwan < IE base * swen , to sound, sing > L sonus,SOUND1 ] 1. pl. swans or swan any of several large bodied, web footed waterfowl (family Anatidae, esp. genus Cygnus) with a long, graceful… …   English World dictionary

  • swan n — Swan swam over the sea, Swim, swan, swim! Swan swam back again. Well swum, swan! …   English expressions

  • Swan — Swan, IA U.S. city in Iowa Population (2000): 121 Housing Units (2000): 40 Land area (2000): 0.647074 sq. miles (1.675914 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.647074 sq. miles (1.675914 sq. km) FIPS …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Swan, IA — U.S. city in Iowa Population (2000): 121 Housing Units (2000): 40 Land area (2000): 0.647074 sq. miles (1.675914 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.647074 sq. miles (1.675914 sq. km) FIPS code:… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Swan — Swan, John Macallan Swan, Joseph Wilson …   Enciclopedia Universal

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