dwell
[ dwel ]
/ dwɛl /
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verb (used without object), dwelt or dwelled, dwell·ing.
to live or stay as a permanent resident; reside.
to live or continue in a given condition or state: to dwell in happiness.
to linger over, emphasize, or ponder in thought, speech, or writing (often followed by on or upon): to dwell on a particular point in an argument.
(of a moving tool or machine part) to be motionless for a certain interval during operation.
noun
Machinery.
- a flat or cylindrical area on a cam for maintaining a follower in a certain position during part of a cycle.
- a period in a cycle in the operation of a machine or engine during which a given part remains motionless.
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Origin of dwell
before 900; Middle English dwellen to lead astray, stun, abide, Old English dwellan to lead or go astray, hinder; cognate with Old Norse dvelja
OTHER WORDS FROM dwell
dweller, nounoutdwell, verb (used with object), out·dwelt or out·dwelled, out·dwell·ing.pre·dwell, verb (used without object)Words nearby dwell
dwarf sumac, Dwayne, DWB, dweeb, dweeby, dwell, dwelling, dwelling house, dwelling place, dwell on, dwell time
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use dwell in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for dwell
dwell
/ (dwɛl) /
verb dwells, dwelling, dwelt (dwɛlt) or dwelled (intr)
formal, literary to live as a permanent resident
to live (in a specified state)to dwell in poverty
noun
a regular pause in the operation of a machine
a flat or constant-radius portion on a linear or rotary cam enabling the cam follower to remain static for a brief time
Derived forms of dwell
dweller, nounWord Origin for dwell
Old English dwellan to seduce, get lost; related to Old Saxon bidwellian to prevent, Old Norse dvelja, Old High German twellen to prevent
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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