swing meaning and definition

SWING noun

Definition of swing (noun)

1. a state of steady vigorous action that is characteristic of an activity
   • "the party went with a swing"; "it took time to get into the swing of things"
2. mechanical device used as a plaything to support someone swinging back and forth
3. a sweeping blow or stroke
   • "he took a wild swing at my head"
4. changing location by moving back and forth
   • synonyms: swinging, vacillation
5. a style of jazz played by big bands popular in the 1930s; flowing rhythms but less complex than later styles of jazz
   • synonyms: jive, swing music
6. a jaunty rhythm in music
   • synonyms: lilt
7. the act of swinging a golf club at a golf ball and (usually) hitting it
   • synonyms: golf shot, golf stroke
8. in baseball; a batter's attempt to hit a pitched ball
   • "he took a vicious cut at the ball"
   • synonyms: baseball swing, cut
9. a square dance figure; a pair of dancers join hands and dance around a point between them

SWING verb

Definition of swing (verb)

1. move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
   • "He swung his left fist"; "swing a bat"
2. move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner
   • "He swung back"
   • synonyms: sway
3. change direction with a swinging motion; turn
   • "swing back"; "swing forward"
4. influence decisively
   • "This action swung many votes over to his side"
   • synonyms: swing over
5. make a big sweeping gesture or movement
   • synonyms: sweep, swing out
6. hang freely
   • "the ornaments dangled from the tree"; "The light dropped from the ceiling"
   • synonyms: dangle, drop
7. hit or aim at with a sweeping arm movement
   • "The soccer player began to swing at the referee"
8. alternate dramatically between high and low values
   • "his mood swings"; "the market is swinging up and down"
9. live in a lively, modern, and relaxed style
   • "The Woodstock generation attempted to swing freely"
10. have a certain musical rhythm
    • "The music has to swing"
11. be a social swinger; socialize a lot
    • synonyms: get around
12. play with a subtle and intuitively felt sense of rhythm
13. engage freely in promiscuous sex, often with the husband or wife of one's friends
    • "There were many swinging couples in the 1960's"