swivel

[ swiv-uhl ]
See synonyms for swivel on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a fastening device that allows the thing fastened to turn around freely upon it, especially to turn in a full circle.

  2. such a device consisting of two parts, each of which turns around independently, as a compound link of a chain, one part of which turns freely in the other by means of a headed pin or the like.

  1. a pivoted support allowing a gun to turn around in a horizontal plane.

  2. a device attached to a loom and used as a shuttle to weave extra threads in the production of small figures, especially dots.

verb (used with object),swiv·eled, swiv·el·ing or (especially British) swiv·elled, swiv·el·ling.
  1. to turn or pivot on or as if on a swivel: He swiveled his chair around.

  2. to fasten by a swivel; furnish with a swivel.

verb (used without object),swiv·eled, swiv·el·ing or (especially British) swiv·elled, swiv·el·ling.
  1. to turn on or if as on a swivel.

Origin of swivel

1
1275–1325; Middle English (noun), equivalent to swiv- (weak stem of Old English swīfan to revolve; cognate with Old Norse svīfa to turn) + -el instrumental suffix

Other words from swivel

  • swiv·el·like, adjective
  • un·swiv·el, verb (used with object), un·swiv·eled, un·swiv·el·ing or (especially British) un·swiv·elled, un·swiv·el·ling.

Words Nearby swivel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use swivel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for swivel

swivel

/ (ˈswɪvəl) /


noun
  1. a coupling device which allows an attached object to turn freely

  2. such a device made of two parts which turn independently, such as a compound link of a chain

    • a pivot on which is mounted a gun that may be swung from side to side in a horizontal plane

    • Also called: swivel gun the gun itself

verb-els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled
  1. to turn or swing on or as if on a pivot

  2. (tr) to provide with, secure by, or support with a swivel

Origin of swivel

1
C14: from Old English swīfan to turn; see swift

Derived forms of swivel

  • swivel-like, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012