swathe

¹ American  

[swoth, sweyth] / swɒð, sweɪð /

verb (used with object)

swathed, swathing

1. to wrap, bind, or swaddle with bands of some material; wrap up closely or fully.

2. to bandage.

3. to enfold or envelop, as wrappings do.

4. to wrap (cloth, rope, etc.) around something.

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noun

1. a band of linen or the like in which something is wrapped; wrapping; bandage.

swathe ² American  

[swoth, sweyth] / swɒð, sweɪð /

noun

1. swath.

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swathe British  

/ sweɪð /

verb

1. to bandage (a wound, limb, etc), esp completely

2. to wrap a band, garment, etc, around, esp so as to cover completely; swaddle

3. to envelop

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noun

1. a bandage or wrapping

2. a variant spelling of swath

Other Word Forms

• swathable
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of swathe

before 1050; (noun) Middle English; Old English *swæth or *swath (in swathum dative plural); cf. swaddle; (v.) Middle English swathen, late Old English swathian, derivative of the noun; cognate with Old Norse svatha

Explanation

When you swathe yourself in a blanket, you are wrapping or swaddling yourself up in it. Swathe a baby up and you're creating a little cocoon where she can sleep. Sometimes spelled "swath," swathe is commonly used to talk about how you wrap up a baby in a soft blanket. The verb can also refer to binding a wound with bandages; as a noun, a swathe is a long strip or bandage to protect a wound. Swathe derives from an Old English word, swaþian, which means "to wrap."

Example Sentences

Revenue fell 4.9% on year, but the group hopes a swathe of new auto models can help it boost sluggish sales.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

The FLA has for years been fighting for the creation of its own Tuareg homeland in northern Mali, a large swathe of which it has effective control over.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

Although a ceasefire was in place, movement in the area required coordination through a U.S.-French “mechanism” that would stay the fire of Israeli troops currently occupying a swathe of south Lebanon.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

In the longer run, it could affect a broader swathe of the stock market—and even hurt the U.S. chip makers that still have a technological edge over everyone else.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026

A swathe of dirty yellow sponge spilled out and shivered on the backseat like an immense jaundiced liver.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy

Related Words

• bandage
• clothe
• swaddle
• wrap