swell

• Adjectif américain vieilli signifiant excellent ou très bon, désormais rarement utilisé.

An old-fashioned American English adjective meaning excellent or very good, now rarely used.

1. Excellent or GreatB2slangamerican

   Very good, excellent, or wonderful (informal, dated slang).

   excellent, formidable

   • That was a swell party last night!
   • He's a swell guy, always willing to help.
   • We had a swell time at the beach.

   Synonymesexcellentfantasticgreatmarveloussplendidsuperbterrificwonderful

   Antonymesawfulbadhorriblepoorterrible

2. Elegant or SmartC1informal

   Stylish, fashionable, or well-dressed (dated).

   élégant, chic

   • She looked swell in her new dress.
   • The hotel has a swell lobby with chandeliers.
   • He drove a swell car from the 1920s.

   Synonymesdashingelegantfashionableritzysmartsnappyspiffystylish

• Augmentation progressive de taille, de volume ou d'étendue, ou longue série de vagues à la surface de l'eau.

A noun referring to a gradual increase in size, volume, or extent, or a long series of waves on the surface of water.

1. Ocean waveB1formal

   A long, rolling wave that moves steadily across the ocean, often without breaking.

   houle

   • Surfers waited for the perfect swell to arrive.
   • The beach had a gentle swell that day.
   • Large swells made the boat rock violently.

   Synonymesbillowcomberroller

2. Increase in sizeB2formal

   The act of becoming larger or expanding.

   gonflement

   • There was a sudden swell in the river after the rain.
   • The tumor caused a painful swell in his arm.
   • The swell of the crowd made it hard to move.

   Synonymesbulgedistensionenlargementexpansiongrowthincreaserisesurgeswelling

   Antonymescontractdecreasediminishshrinksubside

3. Fashionable person (slang)slangamerican

   An elegant or stylish person, especially from early 20th-century slang.

   Personne élégante (argot)

   • He dressed like a real swell from the 1920s.
   • The party was full of swells in tuxedos.
   • Look at that swell with the fancy hat.

   Synonymesbeaubladedandydudefoptoff

• Verbe signifiant augmenter de taille, de volume ou d'intensité, ou se remplir d'émotion.

A verb used to indicate the act of increasing in size, volume, or extent, or becoming filled with emotion.

verbe irrégulier

1. Increase in sizeB1formal

   To become larger or rounder, often due to pressure or absorption of liquid.

   enfler

   • The river swelled after heavy rain.
   • Her ankle swelled up after the injury.
   • The bread dough swelled as it rose.

   Synonymesballoonbloatbulgedistendenlargeexpandinflatepuff up

   Antonymescompresscontractdecreasedeflatediminishshrink

2. B1formal

   To grow or increase in amount, volume, or intensity.

   enfler, augmenter

   • The crowd swelled to thousands by evening.
   • Pride swelled in his chest after the victory.
   • The music swelled to a crescendo.

   Synonymesballoonenlargeescalateexpandgrowincreaseinflatemultiplyrisesurge

   Antonymescontractdeclinedecreasediminishreduceshrinksubside

Variantes phrasalswell up