swish

[ swish ]

/ swɪʃ /

verb (used without object)

to move with or make a sibilant sound, as a slender rod cutting sharply through the air or as small waves washing on the shore.

to rustle, as silk.

to move or behave in an exaggeratedly effeminate manner.

verb (used with object)

to flourish, whisk, etc., with a swishing movement or sound: to swish a cane.

to bring, take, cut, etc., with such a movement or sound: to swish off the tops of plants with a cane.

to flog or whip.

noun

a swishing movement or sound.

a stock or rod for flogging or a stroke with this.

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to an effeminate male homosexual.

adjective

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. swishy(def 2).

Chiefly British Informal. stylishly elegant; fashionable.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?

Question 1 of 10

decorum

the act of or need for making up one's mind.

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

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Origin of swish

First recorded in 1750–60; imitative

OTHER WORDS FROM swish

swish·er, nounswish·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby swish

swipe card, swipes, swipple, swirl, swirly, swish, swishy, swiss, swiss army knife, swiss ball, swiss chard

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for swish

SB Nation and their Swish Appeal site do a pretty bang-up job, as well.
Women's Sports Are Getting Less Airtime|Evelyn Shoop|August 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Odds are, you expected Jackson to swish all three, but first freebie dribbled off the front of the rim and suddenly, hope renewed!
Was Aaron Harrison’s Game-Winning Three-Pointer ‘Clutch’?|Robert Silverman|April 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Kavala Graha, you use a smaller amount of oil, swish between the teeth, and gargle at the back of the throat.
Oil Pulling: Miracle Cure or Oily Mess?|DailyBurn|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Caldecott says that if you swish oil for too long, you could accidentally breathe some into your lungs.
Oil Pulling: Miracle Cure or Oily Mess?|DailyBurn|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Swish it, especially around the cheeks and upper palate, and pull it through your teeth.
Oil Pulling: Miracle Cure or Oily Mess?|DailyBurn|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The door had opened; he heard the swish of skirts, and knew it could not be General Bartholomew.
The Imaginary Marriage|Henry St. John Cooper
They are just dotted Swish and we got it at a sale, so it didn't cost us much.
The Lilac Lady|Ruth Alberta Brown
Both boys expected to see it swish through the water the next moment and dash the life out of them, but it did not move.
Golden Days for Boys and Girls, Vol. XII, Jan. 3, 1891|Various
He heard a swish through the air and he looked away from his dead wife in the direction of the sound.
The Chalice Of Courage|Cyrus Townsend Brady
They arrived with a swish and sickening explosion and a thud.
Australia in Arms|Phillip F.E. Schuler

British Dictionary definitions for swish

swish

/ (swɪʃ) /

verb

to move with or make or cause to move with or make a whistling or hissing sound

(intr) (esp of fabrics) to rustle

(tr) slang, rare to whip; flog

(tr foll by off) to cut with a swishing blow

noun

a hissing or rustling sound or movement

a rod for flogging or a blow from such a rod

US slang an effeminate male homosexual

a W African building material composed of mortar and mud or laterite, or more recently of cement and earth

adjective

informal, mainly British fashionable; smart

US slang effeminate and homosexual

Derived forms of swish

swisher, nounswishing, adjectiveswishingly, adverb

Word Origin for swish

C18: of imitative origin

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

swish

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

adjective

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

Origin of swish

OTHER WORDS FROM swish

Words nearby swish

Example sentences from the Web for swish

British Dictionary definitions for swish

verb

noun

adjective

Derived forms of swish

Word Origin for swish

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

swish

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

adjective

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

Origin of swish

OTHER WORDS FROM swish

Words nearby swish

Words related to swish

Example sentences from the Web for swish

British Dictionary definitions for swish

verb

noun

adjective

Derived forms of swish

Word Origin for swish