swing

verb (swings, swinging; past and past participle swung /swəNG/)

• 1move or cause to move back and forth or from side to side while suspended or on an axis: [no object]:her long black skirt swung about her legs [with object]:a priest began swinging a censer (as adjective swinging)local girls with their castanets and their swinging hips
• [with object] turn (a ship or aircraft) to all compass points in succession, in order to test compass error.
• [no object] informal be executed by hanging:now he was going to swing for it

• 2 [no object] move by grasping a support from below and leaping:we swung across like two trapeze artists (swing oneself)the Irishman swung himself into the saddle
• move quickly around to the opposite direction:Ronni had swung around to face him
• move with a rhythmic swaying gait:the riflemen swung along smartly

• 3 [with adverbial of direction] move or cause to move in a smooth, curving line: [with object]:he swung her bag up onto the rack [no object]:the cab swung into the parking lot
• [with object] bring down (something held) with a curving movement, typically in order to hit an object:I swung the club and missed the ball
• [no object] (swing at) attempt to hit or punch, typically with a wide curving movement of the arm:he swung at me with the tire iron
• [with object] throw (a punch) with a swinging movement:she swung a punch at him

• 4shift or cause to shift from one opinion, mood, or state of affairs to another: [no object]:opinion swung in the chancellor’s favor [with object]:the failure to seek a peace could swing sentiment the other way
• [with object] have a decisive influence on (something, especially a vote or election):an attempt to swing the vote in their favor
• [with object] informal succeed in bringing about:with us backing you we might be able to swing something

• 5 [no object] play music with an easy flowing but vigorous rhythm:the band swung on
• (of music) be played with an easy flowing but vigorous rhythm.

• 6 [no object] informal (of an event, place, or way of life) be lively, exciting, or fashionable.

• 7 [no object] informal be promiscuous, typically by engaging in group sex or swapping sexual partners.

noun

• 1a seat suspended by ropes or chains, on which someone may sit and swing back and forth.
• a spell of swinging on a seat suspended by ropes or chains.

• 2an act of swinging:with the swing of her arm, the knife flashed through the air
• the manner in which a golf club or a bat is swung:improve your golf swing
• the motion of swinging:this short cut gave her hair new movement and swing

• 3a discernible change in opinion:the South’s swing to the right

• 4a style of jazz or dance music with an easy flowing but vigorous rhythm.
• the rhythmic feeling or drive of swing music.

• 5a swift tour involving a number of stops, especially one undertaken as part of a political campaign.

• 6(in musical theater) an understudy, typically one who covers multiple roles in the chorus of a particular production.