switch|board /sw I tʃbɔː r d/ (switchboards ) N‑COUNT A switchboard is a place in a large office or business where all the phone calls are connected. □ He asked to be connected to the central switchboard at London University.
swi tched-o n ADJ If you describe someone as switched-on , you mean that they are aware of the latest developments in a particular area or activity. [INFORMAL ] □ I am very impressed with Brian Hanlon, who seems a switched-on sort of guy.
swiv|el /sw I v ə l/ (swivels , swivelling , swivelled ) in AM, use swiveling , swiveled 1 VERB If something swivels or if you swivel it, it turns around a central point so that it is facing in a different direction. □ [V n adv/prep] She swivelled her chair round and stared out across the back lawn. □ [V ] His chairs can swivel, but they can't move up or down. [Also V n]
2 VERB If you swivel in a particular direction, you turn suddenly in that direction. □ [V adv/prep] He swivelled round to face Sarah.
swi v|el chair (swivel chairs ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A swivel chair is a chair whose seat can be turned around a central point to face in a different direction without moving the legs.
swol|len /swoʊ l ə n/
1 ADJ If a part of your body is swollen , it is larger and rounder than normal, usually as a result of injury or illness. □ My eyes were so swollen I could hardly see.
2 ADJ A swollen river has more water in it and flows faster than normal, usually because of heavy rain.
3 Swollen is the past participle of swell .
swoon /swuː n/ (swoons , swooning , swooned ) VERB If you swoon , you are strongly affected by your feelings for someone you love or admire very much. □ [V + over ] Virtually every woman in the '20s swooned over Valentino. □ [V ] The ladies shriek and swoon at his every word. [Also V adv]
swoop /swuː p/ (swoops , swooping , swooped )
1 VERB If police or soldiers swoop on a place, they go there suddenly and quickly, usually in order to arrest someone or to attack the place. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V + on ] The terror ended when armed police swooped on the car. □ [V ] When police swooped, 37 people were arrested. ● N‑COUNT Swoop is also a noun. □ The pair were arrested in a swoop on a house in Aberdeen.
2 VERB When a bird or aeroplane swoops , it suddenly moves downwards through the air in a smooth curving movement. □ [V adv/prep] More than 20 helicopters began swooping in low over the ocean. □ [V ] The hawk swooped and soared away carrying something.
3 PHRASE If something is done in one fell swoop or at one fell swoop , it is done on a single occasion or by a single action. □ In one fell swoop the bank wiped away the tentative benefits of this policy.
swop /swɒ p/ → see swap
sword /sɔː r d/ (swords )
1 N‑COUNT A sword is a weapon with a handle and a long sharp blade.
2 PHRASE If you cross swords with someone, you disagree with them and argue with them about something. □ [+ with ] She was a prominent member of the council and frequently crossed swords with the local MP.
3 PHRASE If you say that something is a double-edged sword or a two-edged sword , you mean that it has negative effects as well as positive effects.
4 sword of damocles → see Damocles
sword|fish /sɔː r df I ʃ/ (swordfish ) N‑VAR A swordfish is a large sea fish with a very long upper jaw. ● N‑UNCOUNT Swordfish is this fish eaten as food. □ …grilled swordfish with a yogurt dressing.
swords|man /sɔː r dzmən/ (swordsmen ) N‑COUNT A swordsman is a man who is skilled at fighting with a sword.
swore /swɔː r / Swore is the past tense of swear .
sworn /swɔː r n/
1 Sworn is the past participle of swear .
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you make a sworn statement or declaration, you swear that everything that you have said in it is true. □ The allegations against them were made in sworn evidence to the inquiry.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] If two people or two groups of people are sworn enemies, they dislike each other very much. □ It somehow seems hardly surprising that Ms Player is now his sworn enemy.
swot /swɒ t/ (swots , swotting , swotted )
1 VERB If you swot , you study very hard, especially when you are preparing for an examination. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V + for ] They swotted for their A levels. [Also V ]
2 N‑COUNT If you call someone a swot , you disapprove of the fact that they study extremely hard and are not interested in other things. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
swum /swʌ m/ Swum is the past participle of swim .
swung /swʌ ŋ/ Swung is the past tense and past participle of swing .
syba|rit|ic /s I bər I t I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Someone who has a sybaritic way of life spends a lot of time relaxing in a luxurious way. [FORMAL ]
syca|more /s I kəmɔː r / (sycamores ) N‑VAR A sycamore or a sycamore tree is a tree that has yellow flowers and large leaves with five points. ● N‑UNCOUNT Sycamore is the wood of this tree. □ The furniture is made of sycamore, beech and leather.
syco|phan|cy /s I kəfænsi, [AM ] -fənsi/ N‑UNCOUNT Sycophancy is the quality or action of being sycophantic. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]