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Swell   /swɛl/  verb

1 [no object] : to become larger than normal

  • Her broken ankle swelled badly.

— often + up

  • The bee sting made my whole arm swell up.

2 [+ object] : to make (something, such as a river) larger or more full than normal

  • Heavy rains swelled the river.

3 : to increase in size or number

[no object]

  • The population has swelled/swollen in recent years.
  • The economy is swelling at an annual rate of five percent.

[+ object]

  • Immigrants have swelled the population.

4 [no object] : to become louder

  • The music swelled.

5 : to cause (something, such as a sail) to stretch outward and become full

[+ object]

  • The breeze swelled(out) the sails.

[no object]

  • The sails swelled(out) in the breeze.

6 [no object] : to feel an emotion strongly — + with

  • His heart swelled with pride.
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