swan

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noun

ˈswän 

plural swans

1

plural also swan : any of various large heavy-bodied long-necked mostly pure white aquatic birds (family Anatidae, especially genus Cygnus) that have webbed feet and are related to but larger than the geese

2

: one that resembles or is likened to a swan

3

capitalized : the constellation Cygnus

Illustration of swan

• swan 1

swan

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verb (1)

swanned; swanning

intransitive verb

: to wander aimlessly or idly : dally

swan

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verb (2)

swanned; swanning

intransitive verb

dialect

: declare, swear

Examples of swan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In this particular case, an outbreak of HPAI is suspected of causing the death of Canada geese, swans, and other birds in Plymouth. —Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2025

In the film, the dress represents Hepburn’s character’s transformation from an unrefined, ponytailed cygnet into a swan, freshly molded by a stint in Paris. —Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2025

Verb

This season reaches its pinnacle of camp with a visit from Oscar Wilde himself (Jordan Sebastian Waller), who swans through a crowd of Manhattan elite dropping droll asides after the premiere of his first play, Vera; or, The Nihilists. —EW.com, 27 Oct. 2023

The music video, in which Tay swans around a Malibu mansion in a pastel two-piece, was more controversial. —Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Middle High German swan and perhaps to Latin sonus sound — more at sound entry 1

Verb (2)

perhaps euphemism for swear

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1942, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1784, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing swan

• mute swan
• swan boat
• swan dive
• swan song
• trumpeter swan
• tundra swan
• whistling swan
• whooper swan

Kids Definition

swan

noun

ˈswän

plural swans also swan

: any of various large heavy-bodied long-necked usually pure white water birds with webbed feet that are related to but larger than the geese

Geographical Definition

Swan

geographical name

ˈswän 

variants or in its upper course Avon

ˈa-vən 

river about 240 miles (386 kilometers) long in southwestern Western Australia flowing west into the Indian Ocean