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switch|board /sw I tʃbɔː r d/ (switchboards ) N‑COUNT A switchboard is a place in a large office or business where all the phone calls are connected. □  He asked to be connected to the central switchboard at London University.

swi tched-o n ADJ If you describe someone as switched-on , you mean that they are aware of the latest developments in a particular area or activity. [INFORMAL ] □  I am very impressed with Brian Hanlon, who seems a switched-on sort of guy.

swiv|el /sw I v ə l/ (swivels , swivelling , swivelled ) in AM, use swiveling , swiveled 1 VERB If something swivels or if you swivel it, it turns around a central point so that it is facing in a different direction. □ [V n adv/prep] She swivelled her chair round and stared out across the back lawn. □ [V ] His chairs can swivel, but they can't move up or down. [Also V n]


2 VERB If you swivel in a particular direction, you turn suddenly in that direction. □ [V adv/prep] He swivelled round to face Sarah.

swi v|el chair (swivel chairs ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A swivel chair is a chair whose seat can be turned around a central point to face in a different direction without moving the legs.

swol|len /swoʊ l ə n/


1 ADJ If a part of your body is swollen , it is larger and rounder than normal, usually as a result of injury or illness. □  My eyes were so swollen I could hardly see.


2 ADJ A swollen river has more water in it and flows faster than normal, usually because of heavy rain.


3Swollen is the past participle of swell .

swoon /swuː n/ (swoons , swooning , swooned ) VERB If you swoon , you are strongly affected by your feelings for someone you love or admire very much. □ [V + over ] Virtually every woman in the '20s swooned over Valentino. □ [V ] The ladies shriek and swoon at his every word. [Also V adv]

swoop /swuː p/ (swoops , swooping , swooped )


1 VERB If police or soldiers swoop on a place, they go there suddenly and quickly, usually in order to arrest someone or to attack the place. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V + on ] The terror ended when armed police swooped on the car. □ [V ] When police swooped, 37 people were arrested. ● N‑COUNT Swoop is also a noun. □  The pair were arrested in a swoop on a house in Aberdeen.


2 VERB When a bird or aeroplane swoops , it suddenly moves downwards through the air in a smooth curving movement. □ [V adv/prep] More than 20 helicopters began swooping in low over the ocean. □ [V ] The hawk swooped and soared away carrying something.


3 PHRASE If something is done in one fell swoop or at one fell swoop , it is done on a single occasion or by a single action. □  In one fell swoop the bank wiped away the tentative benefits of this policy.

swop /swɒ p/ → see swap

sword /sɔː r d/ (swords )


1 N‑COUNT A sword is a weapon with a handle and a long sharp blade.


2 PHRASE If you cross swords with someone, you disagree with them and argue with them about something. □ [+ with ] She was a prominent member of the council and frequently crossed swords with the local MP.


3 PHRASE If you say that something is a double-edged sword or a two-edged sword , you mean that it has negative effects as well as positive effects.


4sword of damocles → see Damocles

sword|fish /sɔː r df I ʃ/ (swordfish ) N‑VAR A swordfish is a large sea fish with a very long upper jaw. ● N‑UNCOUNT Swordfish is this fish eaten as food. □  …grilled swordfish with a yogurt dressing.

swords|man /sɔː r dzmən/ (swordsmen ) N‑COUNT A swordsman is a man who is skilled at fighting with a sword.

swore /swɔː r / Swore is the past tense of swear .

sworn /swɔː r n/


1Sworn is the past participle of swear .


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