swan
swan Lexical Profile
swan Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A large aquatic bird of the family Anatidae, native to various regions globally, characterized by a heavy body, a long, flexible, and graceful neck, webbed feet, and typically pure white plumage in adults of Northern Hemisphere species.
"The majestic white swan glided silently across the glassy surface of the lake."
A person or thing of unusual beauty, grace, purity, or excellence.
"Once considered the awkward duckling of the ballet class, she eventually blossomed into a graceful swan."
• verb
British To wander or move about in an ostentatious, aimless, or leisurely manner, often implying a lack of serious purpose, effort, or responsibility.
"Instead of helping with the demanding dinner preparations, he spent the entire afternoon swanning around the garden."
Word Nuance & Usage
When used as a verb, 'swan' is almost exclusively paired with 'around' or 'about' (e.g., 'swanning around') and carries a mildly critical tone, particularly in British English, implying that someone is avoiding work while acting with undue grandiosity.
• Rhymes for swan
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'swan', deriving from Proto-Germanic '*swanaz'. It is widely believed to stem from the Proto-Indo-European root '*swenh-', meaning 'to sound' or 'to sing', a reference to the whistling or trumpeting calls of some species.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.