swine

[ swahyn ]

noun

, plural swine.

1. any stout, cloven-hoofed artiodactyl of the Old World family Suidae, having a thick hide sparsely covered with coarse hair, a disklike snout, and an often short, tasseled tail: now of worldwide distribution and hunted or raised for its meat and other products. Compare hog, pig ¹, wild boar.
2. the domestic hog, Sus scrofa.
3. a coarse, gross, or brutishly sensual person.
4. a contemptible person.

swine

/ swaɪn /

noun

1. swines a coarse or contemptible person
2. swine another name for a pig

Derived Forms

• ˈswineˌlike, adjective
• ˈswinishness, noun
• ˈswinishly, adverb
• ˈswinish, adjective

Other Words From

• swinelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of swine¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English swīn; cognate with German Schwein hog, Latin suīnus (adj.) porcine; akin to sow ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of swine¹

Old English swīn; related to Old Norse svīn, Gothic swein, Latin suīnus relating to swine

Idioms and Phrases

see cast pearls before swine .

Example Sentences

Oregon state and federal officials confirmed Wednesday that H5N1 bird flu was found in a pig living Crook County — the first such swine infection reported in the current outbreak.

From Los Angeles Times

Swine are considered by health officials to be efficient influenza mixing bowls: They are susceptible to both avian and human flu viruses and can potentially provide an opportunity for different viruses to exchange genetic materials and become a greater threat to humans.

From Los Angeles Times

An outbreak of the highly contagious African swine fever has been spreading across Europe's pig herds since last summer.

From BBC

Mr Bradshaw said African swine fever "could spread very rapidly through our pig herd and have huge, huge implications".

From BBC

A government spokesperson said that there had never been an outbreak of African Swine Fever in the UK, and it was determined to ensure that remained the case.

From BBC

Related Words

• blackguard
• bounder
• cad
• cur
• knave
• rogue
• rotter
• scoundrel
• varlet
• worm
• wretch