swing

(noun) a state of steady vigorous action that is characteristic of an activity. Examples: "The party went with a swing." "It took time to get into the swing of things."

(noun) mechanical device used as a plaything to support someone swinging back and forth.

(noun) a sweeping blow or stroke. Example: "He took a wild swing at my head."

(noun) changing location by moving back and forth. Synonyms: swinging, vacillation.

(noun) a style of jazz played by big bands popular in the 1930s; flowing rhythms but less complex than later styles of jazz. Synonyms: swing music, jive.

(noun) a jaunty rhythm in music. Synonyms: lilt.

(noun) the act of swinging a golf club at a golf ball and (usually) hitting it. Synonyms: golf stroke, golf shot.

(noun) in baseball; a batter's attempt to hit a pitched ball. Synonyms: baseball swing, cut. Example: "He took a vicious cut at the ball."

(noun) a square dance figure; a pair of dancers join hands and dance around a point between them.

(verb) move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting. Examples: "He swung his left fist." "Swing a bat."

(verb) move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner. Synonyms: sway. Example: "He swung back."

(verb) change direction with a swinging motion; turn. Examples: "Swing back." "Swing forward."

(verb) influence decisively. Synonyms: swing over. Example: "This action swung many votes over to his side."

(verb) make a big sweeping gesture or movement. Synonyms: sweep, swing out.

(verb) hang freely. Synonyms: dangle, drop. Examples: "The ornaments dangled from the tree." "The light dropped from the ceiling."

(verb) hit or aim at with a sweeping arm movement. Example: "The soccer player began to swing at the referee."

(verb) alternate dramatically between high and low values. Examples: "His mood swings." "The market is swinging up and down."

(verb) live in a lively, modern, and relaxed style. Example: "The woodstock generation attempted to swing freely."

(verb) have a certain musical rhythm. Example: "The music has to swing."

(verb) be a social swinger; socialize a lot. Synonyms: get around.

(verb) play with a subtle and intuitively felt sense of rhythm.

(verb) engage freely in promiscuous sex, often with the husband or wife of one's friends. Example: "There were many swinging couples in the 1960's."