SWELL, v.i. pret. swelled; pp. swelled. Swollen is nearly obsolete..

1. Extension of bulk. – Shak.
2. Increase, as of sound; as, the swell of a note, or the increase and diminution of sound, crescendo and diminuendo, in one continued note.
3. A gradual ascent or elevation of land; as, an extensive plain abounding with little swells.
4. A wave or billow; more generally, a succession of large waves; as, a heavy swell sets into the harbor. Swell is also used to denote the waves or fluctuation of the sea after a storm, and the waves that roll in and break upon the shore.
5. In an organ, a certain number of pipes inclosed in a box, which being uncovered, produce a swell of sound. – Busby.

1. To grow larger; to dilate or extend the exterior surface or dimensions, by matter added to the interior part, or expansion of the inclosed substance. Thus the legs swell in dropsy; a bruised part swells; a tumor swells; a bladder swells by inflation.
2. To increase in size or extent by any addition; as, a river swells and overflows its banks.
3. To rise or be driven into waves or billows. In a tempest, the ocean swells into waves mountain high.
4. To be puffed up or bloated; as, to swell with pride.
5. To be bloated with anger; to be exasperated. He swells with rage.
6. To be inflated; to belly; as, swelling, sails.
7. To be turgid or bombastic; as, swelling words; a swelling style. – Roscommon.
8. To protuberate; to bulge out; as, a cask swabs in the middle.
9. To be elated; to rise into arrogance. Your equal mind yet swells not into state. – Dryden.
10. To grow more violent; as, a moderate passion may to fury.
11. To grow upon the view; to become larger. And monarchs to behold the swelling scene. – Shak.
12. To become larger in amount. Many little debts added, swell to a great amount.
13. To become louder; as, a sound gradually swells as it approaches.
14. To strut; to look big. Swelling like a turky-cock. – Shak.
15. To rise in altitude; as, land swells into hills.

1. To increase the size, bulk, or dimensions of; to cause to rise, dilate, or increase. Rains and dissolving snow swell the rivers in spring, and cause floods. Jordan is swelled by the snows of mount Libanus.
2. To aggravate; to highten. It is low ebb with the accuser, when such peccadillos are put to swell the charge. – Atterbury.
3. To raise to arrogance; as, to be swelled with pride or haughtiness.
4. To enlarge. These sums swell the amount of taxes to a fearful size. These victories served to swell the fame of the commander.
5. In music, to augment, as the sound of a note.

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 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.

3. The act of swelling.
4. 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]

5. 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.
6. To aggravate; to heighten.
   
   

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

7. Gradual increase.
   
   
   Specifically: (a)
8. To rise or be driven into waves or billows; to heave; as, in tempest, the ocean swells into waves.
9. To raise to arrogance; to puff up; to inflate; as, to be swelled with pride or haughtiness.
10. A gradual ascent, or rounded elevation, of land; as, an extensive plain abounding with little swells.
11. 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.

12. To augment gradually in force or loudness, as the sound of a note.
13. 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.

14. To be inflated; to belly; as, the sails swell.
15. A gradual increase and decrease of the volume of sound; the crescendo and diminuendo combined; -- generally indicated by the sign.
16. To be turgid, bombastic, or extravagant; as, swelling words; a swelling style.
17. 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 (Zoöl.), a small shark (Scyllium ventricosum) of the west coast of North America, which takes in air when caught, and swells up like a swellfish.

18. To protuberate; to bulge out; as, a cask swells in the middle.
19. To be elated; to rise arrogantly.
    
    

    Your equal mind yet swells not into state. Dryden.

20. To grow upon the view; to become larger; to expand.
    
    
    "Monarchs to behold the swelling scene!" Shak.
21. To become larger in amount; as, many little debts added, swell to a great amount.
22. To act in a pompous, ostentatious, or arrogant manner; to strut; to look big.
    
    

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