- (especially of a part of the body) become larger or rounder in size, typically as a result of an accumulation of fluid（多指身体的一部分）肿胀：
her bruised knee was already swelling up
她擦伤的膝盖已经肿起来了
figurative 〈喻〉the sky was black and swollen with rain
天空黑压压的就要下雨了
as adj. swollen swollen glands.肿胀的腺体。
- become or make greater in intensity, number, amount, or volume（在强度, 数目, 数量, 体积方面）逐渐扩大：
no obj. the murmur swelled to a roar窃窃私语的声音逐渐扩大形成一片喧哗
as adj. swelling the swelling ranks of Irish singer-songwriters不断扩大的爱尔兰歌手兼歌曲作家的队伍
with obj. the population was swollen by refugees.大量的难民使人口剧增。
- be intensely affected or filled with a particular emotion（情绪）高涨, 充满：
she felt herself swell with pride.
她感到心中一股自豪之情油然而生。
- in sing. a full or gently rounded shape or form凸起处; 隆起处：
the soft swell of her breast.
她胸部的柔和隆起。
- a gradual increase in sound, amount, or intensity（声音, 数量, 强度）逐渐增长：
a huge swell in the popularity of one-day cricket.
一日板球赛越来越受到欢迎。
- a welling up of a feeling感情的高涨：
a swell of pride swept over George.
一股自豪之情掠过了乔治的心头。
- usu. in sing. a slow, regular movement of the sea in rolling waves that do not break滚滚海浪; 海面的缓慢起伏（有浪而无浪花）; 浪涌：
there was a heavy swell.
海面上有很大的浪涌。
- a mechanism for producing a crescendo or diminuendo in an organ or harmonium（管风琴、簧风琴的）音量调节器。
- informal, dated a person of wealth or high social position, typically one perceived as fashionable or stylish〈非正式, 旧〉（多指时髦有风度的）富人; 头面人物：
a crowd of city swells.
一群城市名流。
- N. Amer. informal, dated excellent; very good〈北美, 非正式, 旧〉第一流的; 极好的：
you're looking swell.
你今天看起来非常精神。
- archaic smart; fashionable〈古〉漂亮的; 时髦的：
a swell boulevard.
一条漂亮的林荫大道。
- N. Amer. informal, dated excellently; very well〈北美, 非正式, 旧〉极好地; 出色地：
everything was just going swell.
一切都进展得非常顺利。
someone's head swells
- someone becomes conceited自以为了不起, 飘飘然：
I am not saying this to make your head swell
我这样说不是为了让你感到飘飘然
if I say this, you'll get swollen-headed.
要是我这么说, 你肯定会觉得自己了不起的。