Definition of "swim"

swim¹

/swɪm/

verb
third-person singular simple present swims, present participle swimming, simple past swam or (archaic) swum, past participle swum
1. (intransitive) To move through the water, without touching the bottom; to propel oneself in water by natural means.
  Quotations
  We were now all upon a Level, as to our travelling; being unshipp’d, for our Bark would swim no farther, and she was too heavy to carry on our Backs […]
  1720, Daniel Defoe, Captain Singleton‎, London: J. Brotherton, page 87
  He turned back to the scene before him and the enormous new block of council dwellings. The design was some way after Corbusier but the block was built up on plinths and resembled an Atlantic liner swimming diagonally across the site.
  1963, Margery Allingham, “Foreword”, in The China Governess‎
  Meanwhile, NR faced an unexpected challenge when a night watchman spotted several Koi Carp swimming in floodwater close to the railway, after they had escaped from a nearby private residence. Wilson says the owner was eventually traced, and the fish were safely returned "after enjoying swimming around in a 3,000-acre lake".
  2020 May 20, Paul Stephen, “NR beats floods to secure tracks to Drax”, in Rail, page 59
2. (intransitive) To become immersed in, or as if in, or flooded with, or as if with, a liquid
3. (intransitive) To move around freely because of excess space.
  Quotations
  A fam'd Sur-tout he wears, which once was blue, / And his foot swims in a capacious shoe.
  1777, The Poetical Preceptor; Or, a Collection of Select Pieces of Poetry, Etc
4. (transitive) To traverse (a specific body of water, or a specific distance) by swimming; or, to utilize a specific swimming stroke; or, to compete in a specific swimming event.
  Quotations
  Sometimes he thought to swim the stormy main.
  1697, Virgil, “The Tenth Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […]
5. (transitive, uncommon) To cause to swim.
6. (intransitive, archaic) To float.
  Quotations
  Why, now, blow wind, swell billow, and swim bark!The storm is up and all is on the hazard.
  1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene i]
  And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], 2 Kings 6:6
7. (intransitive) To be overflowed or drenched.
  Quotations
  I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Psalms 6:6
  Sudden, the ditches ſwell; the meadows ſwim.
  1730, James Thomson, “Autumn”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, page 127, line 336
8. (transitive) To immerse in water to make the lighter parts float.
9. (transitive, historical) To test (a suspected witch) by throwing into a river; those who floated rather than sinking were deemed to be witches.
10. (intransitive) To glide along with a waving motion.
noun
plural swims
1. An act or instance of swimming.
2. The sound, or air bladder, of a fish.
3. (UK) A part of a stream much frequented by fish.
4. A dance or dance move of the 1960s in which the arms are moved in imitation of various swimming strokes, such as freestyle, breaststroke, etc.
  Quotations
  C'mon everybody! C'mon in!Bobby's goin' to show you how to do the swim.
  1964, “C'mon And Swim”, Thomas Coman and Sylvester Stewart (Sly Stone) (lyrics), performed by Bobby Freeman

swim²

noun
plural swims
1. A dizziness; swoon.
verb
third-person singular simple present swims, present participle swimming, simple past swam or (archaic) swum, past participle swum
1. (intransitive) To be dizzy or vertiginous; have a giddy sensation; to have, or appear to have, a whirling motion.
  Quotations
  She snatched the letter from Sir Jasper, who started as her icy hand touched his: she attempted to read the passage herself, but the letters seemed to swim before her gaze: they turned to fire; the paper dropped from her grasp; a thick mist appeared to gather over the room; she gave a convulsive shudder, and dropped on the floor perfectly insensible.
  1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The End of Doubt”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], page 291

swim³

noun
plural not attested
1. (Internet slang, text messaging) Abbreviation of someone who isn't me. used as a way to avoid self-designation or self-incrimination, especially in online drug forums

Definition of "swim"

swim1

verb

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noun

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swim2

noun

verb

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swim3

noun

swim¹

swim²

swim³