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swallow

1. To take into the stomach; to receive through the gullet, or oesophagus, into the stomach; as, to swallow food or drink. As if I had swallowed snowballs for pills. (Shak)

2. To draw into an abyss or gulf; to ingulf; to absorb usually followed by up. The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses. (Num. Xvi. 32)

3. To receive or embrace, as opinions or belief, without examination or scruple; to receive implicitly. Though that story . . . Be not so readily swallowed. (Sir T. Browne)

4. To engross; to appropriate; usually with up. Homer excels . . . In this, that he swallowed up the honor of those who succeeded him. (pope)

5. To occupy; to take up; to employ. The necessary provision of the life swallows the greatest part of their time. (locke)

6. To seize and waste; to exhaust; to consume. Corruption swallowed what the liberal hand Of bounty scattered. (Thomson)

7. To retract; to recant; as, to swallow one's opinions. Swallowed his vows whole.

8. To put up with; to bear patiently or without retaliation; as, to swallow an affront or insult.

Synonym: To absorb, imbibe, ingulf, engross, consume. See Absorb.

Origin: OE. Swolewen, swolwen, swolhen, AS. Swelgan; akin to D. Zwelgen, OHG. Swelahan, swelgan, G. Schwelgen to feast, to revel, Icel. Svelgia to swallow, SW. Svalja, Dan. Svaelge. Cf. Groundsel a plant.

1. (Science: ornithology) Any one of numerous species of passerine birds of the family Hirundinidae, especially one of those species in which the tail is deeply forked. They have long, pointed wings, and are noted for the swiftness and gracefulness of their flight.

The most common North American species are the barn swallow (see under Barn), the cliff, or eaves, swallow (see under Cliff), the white-bellied, or tree, swallow (Tachycineta bicolour), and the bank swallow (see under Bank). The common European swallow (chelidon rustica), and the window swallow, or martin (Chelidon urbica), are familiar species.

2. (Science: zoology) Any one of numerous species of swifts which resemble the true swallows in form and habits, as the common American chimney swallow, or swift.

3. The aperture in a block through which the rope reeves.

(Science: zoology) Swallow plover, any one of numerous species of East indian and Australian singing birds of the genus Dicaeum. They are allied to the honeysuckers.

Origin: OE. Swalowe, AS. Swalewe, swealwe; akin to D. Zwaluw, OHG. Swalawa, G. Schwalbe, Icel. & Sw. Svala, Dan. Svale.