swash

1 of 4

verb

ˈswäsh How to pronounce swash (audio)
ˈswȯsh
swashed; swashing; swashes
Synonyms of swashnext

intransitive verb

1
: bluster, swagger
2
: to make violent noisy movements
3
: to move with a splashing sound

transitive verb

: to cause to splash

swash

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
: swagger
2
: a narrow channel of water lying within a sandbank or between a sandbank and the shore
3
: a dashing of water against or on something
especially : the rush of water up a beach from a breaking wave

swash

3 of 4

noun (2)

: an extended flourish on a printed character

swash

4 of 4

adjective

: having one or more swashes
swash capitals

Synonyms

Verb

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of swash in a Sentence

Verb waves gently swashing against the shore every bump in the road swashed a little more of my soda on the car's upholstery
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
This cushiony highlighter deposits a swash of subtle champagne, rose quartz, or gold while the squalane (the secret star of the show) provides moisture for a long-lasting look that provides a skin-like, never cakey, finish. — Anamaria Glavan, Allure, 5 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably imitative

Noun (2)

obsolete English swash slanting

First Known Use

Verb

1556, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1683, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1683, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of swash was in 1556

Dictionary Entries Near swash

swartzite

swash

swashbuckle

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Swash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swash. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

swash

1 of 2 verb
ˈswäsh How to pronounce swash (audio)
ˈswȯsh
1
: bluster entry 1 sense 2
2
: to make violent noisy movements
3
: to move with a splashing sound

swash

2 of 2 noun
1
: swagger entry 2
2
: a dashing of water against or upon something
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