swan

¹

[ swon ]

noun

1. any of several large, stately aquatic birds of the subfamily Anserinae, having a long, slender neck and usually pure-white plumage in the adult. Compare mute swan, trumpeter swan, whistling swan, whooper swan.
2. a person or thing of unusual beauty, excellence, purity, or the like.
3. Literary. a person who sings sweetly or a poet.
4. Swan, Astronomy. the constellation Cygnus.

swan

²

[ swon ]

verb (used without object)

1. Midland and Southern U.S. Older Use. to swear or declare (used with I ):

   Well, I swan, I never expected to see you here!

Swan

³

[ swon ]

noun

1. Sir Joseph Wilson, 1828–1914, British chemist, electrical engineer, and inventor.

Swan

¹

/ swɒn /

noun

1. SwanSir Joseph Wilson18281914MEnglishSCIENCE: physicistSCIENCE: chemist Sir Joseph Wilson. 1828–1914, English physicist and chemist, who developed the incandescent electric light (1880) independently of Edison

Swan

²

/ swɒn /

noun

1. a river in SW Western Australia, rising as the Avon northeast of Narrogin and flowing northwest and west to the Indian Ocean below Perth. Length: about 240 km (150 miles)

swan

³

/ swɒn /

noun

1. any large aquatic bird of the genera Cygnus and Coscoroba, having a long neck and usually a white plumage: family Anatidae, order Anseriformes
2. rare.
   1. a poet
   2. ( capital when part of a title or epithet )

      the Swan of Avon (Shakespeare)

verb

1. informal.
   intr; usually foll by around or about to wander idly

Derived Forms

• ˈswanˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• swanlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of swan¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with German Schwan, Old Norse svanr

Origin of swan²

1775–85, Americanism; probably continuing dial. (N England) I s'wan, shortening of I shall warrant

Word History and Origins

Origin of swan¹

Old English; related to Old Norse svanr, Middle Low German swōn

Example Sentences

Like majestic swans, they cross in front of the house on their way to Perdido Bay.

From Salon

Argentina then took charge of the breakdown and a smart turnover set them on their way for Joaquin Oviedo to swan dive under the posts.

From BBC

We rented a swan paddleboat on a picturesque day when we could see the downtown L.A. skyline with great clarity in the distance, with the water and fellow swan boats in the foreground.

From Los Angeles Times

But experts have told the BBC that this was likely a "black swan" occurrence of freak weather - and that no-one is necessarily at fault.

From BBC

Fans are wondering whether it will be a swan song for Michaels, who turns 80 later this year.

From Los Angeles Times