Swell \Swell\, 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.

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

2. To aggravate; to heighten.

It is low ebb with his accuser when such peccadilloes are put to swell the charge. --Atterbury.

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

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

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Swell \Swell\, 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. sv["a]lla.]

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.

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.

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

4. To be puffed up or bloated; as, to swell with pride.

You swell at the tartan, as the bull is said to do at scarlet. --Sir W. Scott.

5. To be inflated; to belly; as, the sails swell.

6. To be turgid, bombastic, or extravagant; as, swelling words; a swelling style.

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

8. To be elated; to rise arrogantly.

Your equal mind yet swells not into state. --Dryden.

9. To grow upon the view; to become larger; to expand. ``Monarchs to behold the swelling scene!'' --Shak.

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

Here he comes, swelling like a turkey cock. --Shak.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Swell \Swell\, n.

1. The act of swelling.

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

Little River affords navigation during a swell to within three miles of the Miami. --Jefferson.
   (c) Increase of force, intensity, or volume of sound.

Music arose with its voluptuous swell. --Byron.
   (d) Increase of power in style, or of rhetorical force.

The swell and subsidence of his periods. --Landor.

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

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.

The swell Of the long waves that roll in yonder bay. --Tennyson.

The gigantic swells and billows of the snow. --Hawthorne.

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

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

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 (Zo["o]l.), a small shark (Scyllium ventricosum) of the west coast of North America, which takes in air when caught, and swells up like a swellfish.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

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

Swell mob. See under Mob. [Slang]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)