noun \ˈswä-(ˌ)lō\

Definition of SWALLOW

:  any of numerous small widely distributed oscine birds (family Hirundinidae, the swallow family) that have a short bill, long pointed wings, and often a deeply forked tail and that feed on insects caught on the wing
:  any of several birds that superficially resemble swallows

Illustration of SWALLOW

Origin of SWALLOW

Middle English swalowe, from Old English swealwe; akin to Old High German swalawa swallow
First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Birds Terms

aerie, bunting, clutch, covey, hackle, ratite, rictus, ruff, skein, zygodactyl



: to take (something) into your stomach through your mouth and throat

: to move the muscles in your throat as if you are swallowing something often because you are nervous

: to flow over and cover (something) completely

Full Definition of SWALLOW

transitive verb
:  to take through the mouth and esophagus into the stomach
:  to envelop or take in as if by swallowing :  absorb <swallow the financial loss> <watch night swallow the valley>
:  to accept without question, protest, or resentment <swallow an insult> <a hard story to swallow>
:  take back, retract <had to swallow my words>
:  to keep from expressing or showing :  repress <swallowed my anger>
:  to utter (as words) indistinctly
intransitive verb
:  to receive something into the body through the mouth and esophagus
:  to perform the action characteristic of swallowing something especially under emotional stress
swal·low·able \ˈswä-lō-ə-bəl\ adjective
swal·low·er \ˈswä-lə-wər\ noun

Examples of SWALLOW

  1. He swallowed the grape whole.
  2. Chew your food well before you swallow.
  3. The boss said, Come in. I swallowed hard and walked in.
  4. Her story is pretty hard to swallow.
  5. I can usually take criticism, but this is more than I can swallow.

Origin of SWALLOW

Middle English swalowen, from Old English swelgan; akin to Old High German swelgan to swallow
First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with SWALLOW



Definition of SWALLOW

:  the passage connecting the mouth to the stomach
:  a capacity for swallowing
a :  an act of swallowing
b :  an amount that can be swallowed at one time

First Known Use of SWALLOW

14th century

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral


noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Common swallow (Hirundo rustica).—Stephen Dalton—Natural History Photographic Agency/EB Inc.

Any of several species (family Hirundinidae) of songbirds found nearly worldwide. Swallows are 4–9 in. (10–23 cm) long, with long pointed, narrow wings, a short bill, small, weak feet, and sometimes a forked tail. The dark upper plumage may have a metallic blue or green sheen. Swallows capture insects on the wing. They nest in tree holes, burrow into sandbank, or plaster mud nests to walls. Some species (e.g., the common swallow, Hirundo rustica) are long-distance migrants; all have a strong homing instinct. The swallows of California's San Juan Capistrano Mission are cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota). See also martin.


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