swan

SWAHN/swɑn/UKSWON/swɒn/

Pluralswans, swan

Verbswans, swanning, swanned

5 meanings of swan

1
nouncountable
A large white water bird with a long, curved neck that lives on lakes and rivers.
Like a big white duck with a very long neck.
A swan glided across the still lake at sunrise.
The children fed bread to the swans by the river.
Note
2
nounfigurativelycountable
A person who moves with smooth, beautiful grace.
Like calling a graceful person a beautiful bird.
The ballerina was the swan of the company, moving with perfect grace.
Among the awkward beginners, she stood out as a real swan.
3
verbintransitive
To move around in a relaxed, lazy way, as if you have nothing important to do.
Like wandering slowly with your hands in your pockets, going nowhere special.
They swan around the mall all afternoon with no real plan.
He likes to swan about town as if he owns the place.
Similarsaunter, stroll, waltz, breeze, sashay
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4
nouncountable
A picture of the bird used on a coat of arms, sometimes with a crown around its neck.
Like a team's logo, except a swan stands for a family or a place.
The town's coat of arms shows a white swan with a gold crown.
A silver swan appears on the family's old shield.
Note
5
verbdialectalUSintransitive
To declare or swear something, used mostly in the saying 'I swan' to show surprise.
Like saying 'well, would you believe it!' when something surprises you.
Well, I swan, I never thought I'd see you here again!
I swan, that storm came out of nowhere.
Similarswear, declare
Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–4

It comes from Old English "swan," going back to a very old root that meant "to sing" or "make sound." So the swan was once "the singing bird."

Meaning 5

It probably comes from a dialect phrase "I s'wan," a twisted form of "I shall warrant," or maybe from a softened "I swear on."