swathe

[ swoth, sweyth ]

/ swɒð, sweɪð /

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See synonyms for: swathe / swathed on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), swathed, swath·ing.

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

to bandage.

to enfold or envelop, as wrappings do.

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

noun

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

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

Other definitions for swathe (2 of 2)

swathe²

[ swoth, sweyth ]

/ swɒð, sweɪð /

noun

swath.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use swathe in a sentence

By then the Nazis had already annexed large swathes of Europe, and Britain was embarrassingly unprepared for war.
Putin's Useful (British) Idiots|James Bloodworth|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My guess is this will remain an African tragedy and not threaten larger geographic swathes.
What Ebola on a Plane Means for the U.S.|Kent Sepkowitz|August 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Brazil has been shaken by protests as huge swathes of the populace left out of the late boom took to the streets.
India’s Rupee Drops Off a Cliff|William O’Connor|August 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
She wrapped the models' naked torsos in sheer swathes of tulle, and left prim coats open in the back to reveal frilly bloomers.
Paris Fashion Week Frenzy: Let’s Focus on Clothes|Robin Givhan|March 9, 2011|DAILY BEAST

In this a man swathes himself, somewhat as a Highlander does in his plaid, pinning it over the shoulder and leaving the arms free.
In the Wrong Paradise|Andrew Lang
It was as though they burrowed through swathes of black cotton.
Hunters Out of Space|Joseph Everidge Kelleam
The clothes lay in heavy swathes and folds over the miserable bag of bones that had once been a tall man.
The Mark Of Cain|Andrew Lang
She did ask her, gathering up long swathes of some newly unpacked white material she carried over her arm as she did so.
Gray youth|Oliver Onions
Bodies have been found in the earth without vestige of either coffin or linen swathes.
A history of art in ancient Egypt, Vol. I (of 2)|Georges Perrot

British Dictionary definitions for swathe

swathe

/ (sweɪð) /

verb (tr)

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

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

to envelop

noun

a bandage or wrapping

a variant spelling of swath

Derived forms of swathe

swathable or swatheable, adjective

Word Origin for swathe

Old English swathian; related to swæthel swaddling clothes, Old High German swedil, Dutch zwadel; see swaddle

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

swathe

Origin of swathe

Other definitions for swathe (2 of 2)

Words related to swathe

How to use swathe in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for swathe

Derived forms of swathe

Word Origin for swathe