Swing — Defs

01 v. i. To move to and fro, as a body suspended in the air; to wave; to vibrate; to oscillate.

imp. & p. p. Swung; Archaic imp. Swang; p. pr. & vb. n. Swinging

1.
To move to and fro, as a body suspended in the air; to wave; to vibrate; to oscillate.
“I tried if a pendulum would swing faster, or continue swinging longer, in case of exsuction of the air.” — Boyle.
2.
To sway or move from one side or direction to another; as, the door swung open.
3.
To use a swing; as, a boy swings for exercise or pleasure. See Swing, n., 3. See: Swing
4.
To turn round by action of wind or tide when at anchor; as, a ship swings with the tide.(Naut.)
5.
To be hanged.[Colloq.]
“He had swung round the circle of theories and systems in which his age abounded, without finding relief.” — A. V. G. Allen.

Phrases & compounds

To swing round the circle — to make a complete circuit.

02 v. t. To cause to swing or vibrate; to cause to move backward and forward, or from one side to the other.

1.
To cause to swing or vibrate; to cause to move backward and forward, or from one side to the other.
“He swings his tail, and swiftly turns his round.” — Dryden.

“They get on ropes, as you must have seen the children, and are swung by their men visitants.” — Spectator.
2.
To give a circular movement to; to whirl; to brandish; as, to swing a sword; to swing a club; hence, colloquially, to manage; as, to swing a business.
3.
To admit or turn (anything) for the purpose of shaping it; -- said of a lathe; as, the lathe can swing a pulley of 12 inches diameter.(Mach.)

Phrases & compounds

To swing a door, gate, — to put it on hinges so that it can swing or turn.

03 n. The act of swinging; a waving, oscillating, or vibratory motion of a hanging or pivoted object; oscillation; as, the swing of a pendulum.

1.
The act of swinging; a waving, oscillating, or vibratory motion of a hanging or pivoted object; oscillation; as, the swing of a pendulum.
2.
Swaying motion from one side or direction to the other; as, some men walk with a swing.
3.
A line, cord, or other thing suspended and hanging loose, upon which anything may swing; especially, an apparatus for recreation by swinging, commonly consisting of a rope, the two ends of which are attached overhead, as to the bough of a tree, a seat being placed in the loop at the bottom; also, any contrivance by which a similar motion is produced for amusement or exercise.
4.
Influence of power of a body put in swaying motion.
“The ram that batters down the wall, For the great swing and rudeness of his poise, They place before his hand that made the engine.” — Shak.
5.
Capacity of a turning lathe, as determined by the diameter of the largest object that can be turned in it.
6.
Free course; unrestrained liberty or license; tendency.
“To prevent anything which may prove an obstacle to the full swing of his genius.” — Burke.

Phrases & compounds

Full swing — See under Full.

Swing beam — a crosspiece sustaining the car body, and so suspended from the framing of a truck that it may have an independent lateral motion.

Swing bridge — a form of drawbridge which swings horizontally, as on a vertical pivot.

Swing plow — A plow without a fore wheel under the beam.

Swing wheel — The scape-wheel in a clock, which drives the pendulum.