v. swal·lowed, swal·low·ing, swal·lows v.tr. 1. To cause (food or drink, for example) to pass through the mouth and throat into the stomach. 2. To put up with (something unpleasant): swallowed the insults and kept on working. 3. To refrain from expressing; suppress: swallow one's feelings. 4. To envelop or engulf: a building that was swallowed up by fire. 5. To consume or use up: relief money that was swallowed by administrative costs. 6. Slang To believe without question: swallowed the alibi. 7. To take back; retract: swallow one's words. 8. To say inarticulately; mumble: The actor swallowed his lines. v.intr. To perform the act of swallowing. n. 1. The act of swallowing. 2. An amount swallowed. 3. Nautical The channel through which a rope runs in a block or a mooring chock. [Middle English swalowen, from Old English swelgan; see swel- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] swallow·er n. |
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