word-vault

{ "term": "swing", "partOfSpeech": "verb", "ox5000": true, "cefr": "c1", "verbForms": { "presentSimple": { "iYouWeThey": "swing", "heSheIt": "swings" }, "pastSimple": "swung", "pastParticiple": "swung", "ingForm": "swinging" }, "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to move backwards or forwards or from side to side while hanging from a fixed point; to make something do this", "sensetop": "swing from somethingswing something", "cefr": "c1", "examples": [ { "text": "His arms swung as he walked." }, { "text": "As he pushed her, she swung higher and higher *(= while sitting on a swing)*." }, { "text": "A set of keys swung from her belt.", "contextForm": "swing from something" }, { "text": "He sat on the stool, swinging his legs.", "contextForm": "swing something" }, { "text": "I could see him swinging from the branch of a large tree." }, { "text": "Let your arms swing freely at your sides." }, { "text": "The rope was swinging slightly in the breeze." }, { "text": "The elephant swung its trunk from side to side." } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["gently", "slowly", "violently"], "preposition": ["from"] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to move from one place to another by holding something that is fixed and pulling yourself along, up, etc.", "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.swing yourself + adv./prep.", "cefr": "c1", "examples": [ { "text": "The gunshot sent monkeys swinging away through the trees.", "contextForm": "+ adv./prep." }, { "text": "He swung himself out of the car.", "contextForm": "swing yourself + adv./prep." }, { "text": "He swung up into the saddle and rode off." }, { "text": "She swung down from the tree in one easy movement." } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["slowly", "suddenly", "sharply"], "verb + swing": ["let something"], "preposition": ["from", "into", "towards/toward"], "phrases": ["swing open", "swing shut"] } }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "to move or make something move with a wide curved movement", "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.swing something + adv./prep.+ adj.swing something + adj.", "cefr": "c1", "examples": [ { "text": "A line of cars swung out of the palace gates.", "contextForm": "+ adv./prep." }, { "text": "He swung his legs over the side of the bed.", "contextForm": "swing something + adv./prep." }, { "text": "The door swung open.", "contextForm": "+ adj." }, { "text": "She let the door swing shut behind her." }, { "text": "She swung the door open.", "contextForm": "swing something + adj." } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["slowly", "suddenly", "sharply"], "verb + swing": ["let something"], "preposition": ["from", "into", "towards/toward"], "phrases": ["swing open", "swing shut"] } }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "to change or make somebody/something change from one opinion, mood, etc. to another", "sensetop": "swing (from A) (to B)swing (between A and B)swing somebody/something (to something)", "cefr": "c1", "examples": [ { "text": "The state has swung from Republican to Democrat.", "contextForm": "swing (from A) (to B)" }, { "text": "His emotions swung between fear and curiosity.", "contextForm": "swing (between A and B)" }, { "text": "The game could swing either way *(= either side could win it)*." }, { "text": "I managed to swing them round to my point of view.", "contextForm": "swing somebody/something (to something)" }, { "text": "Her mood could swing rapidly from gloom to exhilaration." }, { "text": "Opinion swung heavily to the left." }, { "text": "The balance of power swung wildly from one party to the other." } ], "topics": ["Opinion and argument"], "collocations": { "adverb": ["rapidly", "suddenly", "wildly"], "preposition": ["from", "to"] } }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "to turn or change direction suddenly; to make something do this", "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.swing something + adv./prep.", "examples": [ { "text": "She swung back to face him.", "contextForm": "+ adv./prep." }, { "text": "The bus swung sharply to the left." }, { "text": "He swung the camera around to face the opposite direction.", "contextForm": "swing something + adv./prep." }, { "text": "Nick swung towards her." }, { "text": "She swung around angrily, her eyes blazing." }, { "text": "Suddenly she swung back on her heel." }, { "text": "He swung the car round in a dangerous U-turn." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 6, "definition": "to try to hit somebody/something", "sensetop": "swing at somebody/somethingswing something (at somebody/something)", "examples": [ { "text": "She swung at me with the iron bar.", "contextForm": "swing at somebody/something" }, { "text": "He swung another punch in my direction.", "contextForm": "swing something (at somebody/something)" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 7, "definition": "to succeed in getting or achieving something, sometimes in a slightly dishonest way", "sensetop": "swing somethingswing somebody something", "labels": "(informal)", "cefr": "c2", "examples": [ { "text": "We're trying to **swing it** so that we can travel on the same flight.", "contextForm": "swing something" }, { "text": "Is there any chance of you swinging us a couple of tickets?", "contextForm": "swing somebody something" } ], "topics": ["Success"] }, { "senseNumber": 8, "definition": "to have a strong rhythm", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 9, "definition": "if a party, etc. is swinging, there are a lot of people there having a good time", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "when somebody says there’s no room to swing a cat, they mean that a room is very small and that there is not enough space", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to affect the result of something in one way rather than another", "examples": [ { "text": "In an interview, smart presentation can swing the balance in your favour." }, { "text": "New evidence swung the balance against the prosecution." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be bisexual (= sexually attracted to both men and women)", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to really try to achieve something great, even when it is not reasonable to expect to be so successful", "labels": "(North American English)", "examples": [ { "text": "entrepreneurs who think big and swing for the fences" }, { "text": "Investors need to manage risk and not swing for the fences." } ], "topics": ["Success"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to start doing something quickly and with a lot of energy", "examples": [ { "text": "The ambulance crew swung into action to resuscitate the patient." }, { "text": "The rescue operation swung into action immediately." }, { "text": "The emergency services swung into action as soon as the disaster was reported." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to pretend to be ill when in fact you are not, especially to avoid work", "labels": "(old-fashioned, British English, informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "I don't think there's anything wrong with her—she's just swinging the lead." } ] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/swɪŋ/", "audio": "sw/swing/swing__gb_3.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/swɪŋz/", "audio": "sw/swing/swings__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/swʌŋ/", "audio": "sw/swing/swung__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈswɪŋɪŋ/", "audio": "sw/swing/swinging__gb_1.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/swɪŋ/", "audio": "sw/swing/swing__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/swɪŋz/", "audio": "sw/swing/swings__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/swʌŋ/", "audio": "sw/swing/swung__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈswɪŋɪŋ/", "audio": "sw/swing/swinging__us_1.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Old English swingan ‘to beat, whip’, also ‘rush’, geswing ‘a stroke with a weapon’, of Germanic origin; related to German schwingen ‘brandish’." }