sway

sway
[[t]swe͟ɪ[/t]]
sways, swaying, swayed
1) VERB When people or things sway, they lean or swing slowly from one side to the other.

[V adv/prep] The people swayed back and forth with arms linked...

The whole boat swayed and tipped.

[V-ing] ...a coastal highway lined with tall, swaying palm trees.

2) VERB If you are swayed by someone or something, you are influenced by them.

[be V-ed] Don't ever be swayed by fashion.

[V n] ...last minute efforts by the main political parties to sway the voters in tomorrow's local elections.

3) PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR over n If someone or something holds sway, they have great power or influence over a particular place or activity.

South of the Usk, a completely different approach seems to hold sway...

The `families' are the basic units, each holding sway over a recognised territory.

4) PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR If you are under the sway of someone or something, they have great influence over you.

How mothers keep daughters under their sway is the subject of the next five sections.


English dictionary. 2008.

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  • Sway — (sw[=a]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Swayed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Swaying}.] [OE. sweyen, Icel. sveigja, akin to E. swing; cf. D. zwaaijen to wield, swing. See {Swing}, and cf. {Swag}, v. i.] 1. To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield; as, to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sway — Sway, n. 1. The act of swaying; a swaying motion; the swing or sweep of a weapon. [1913 Webster] With huge two handed sway brandished aloft. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side; as, the sway of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sway — ist: ein Ort in England, siehe Sway (Hampshire) ein Unternehmen für Spezialeffekt in der Filmbranche, siehe Sway (Unternehmen) ein Konzept für eine schwimmende Windkraftanlage ein Künstlername, siehe Sister Sway eine Hardrockband aus Hannover,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Sway — (sw[=a]), v. i. 1. To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline. [1913 Webster] The balance sways on our part. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward. [1913 Webster] 3. To have… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sway — Sway  англоязычная версия песни «¿Quién será?», мамбо 1953 года мексиканского композитора и руководителя оркестра Пабло Бельтрана Руиса. В 1954 году английский текст написал Норман Джимбел[1], и песню записал Дин Мартин (его запись …   Википедия

  • sway — sway; sway·er; sway·ing·ly; sway·less; …   English syllables

  • sway — [n] strong influence amplitude, authority, clout, command, control, dominion, empire, expanse, government, jurisdiction, mastery, might, power, predominance, range, reach, regime, reign, rule, run, scope, sovereignty, spread, stretch, sweep;… …   New thesaurus

  • sway — [swā] vi. [ME sweyen < ON sveigja, to turn, bend: for IE base see SWATHE1] 1. a) to swing or move from side to side or to and fro b) to vacillate or alternate between one position, opinion, etc. and another c) to lean or incline to one side;… …   English World dictionary

  • sway — ► VERB 1) move slowly and rhythmically backwards and forwards or from side to side. 2) cause (someone) to change their opinion; influence. 3) literary rule; govern. ► NOUN 1) a swaying movement. 2) influence; rule. ● …   English terms dictionary

  • sway — c.1300, to go, glide, move, probably from O.N. sveigja to bend, swing, give way, from P.Gmc. *swaigijanan and related to SWAG (Cf. swag) (v.) and SWING (Cf. swing). The sense of swing, wave, waver is first recorded c.1500. Related: Swayed;… …   Etymology dictionary

  • sway — vb 1 *swing, oscillate, fluctuate, pendulate, vibrate, waver, undulate Analogous words: *shake, rock, agitate, convulse 2 influence, impress, strike, touch, *affect Analogous words: control, direct, manage, *conduct: rule, * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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