Swal"low (?), n. [OE. swalowe, AS. swalewe, swealwe; akin to D. zwaluw, OHG. swalawa, G. schwalbe, Icel. & Sw. svala, Dan. svale.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of passerine birds of the family Hirundinidæ, especially one of those species in which the tail is deeply forked. They have long, pointed wings, and are noted for the swiftness and gracefulness of their flight.

&fist; The most common North American species are the barn swallow (see under Barn), the cliff, or eaves, swallow (see under Cliff), the white-bellied, or tree, swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), and the bank swallow (see under Bank). The common European swallow (Chelidon rustica), and the window swallow, or martin (Chelidon urbica), are familiar species.

2. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of swifts which resemble the true swallows in form and habits, as the common American chimney swallow, or swift.

3. (Naut.) The aperture in a block through which the rope reeves. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Swal"low (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swallowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swallowing.] [OE. swolewen, swolwen, swolhen, AS. swelgan; akin to D. zwelgen, OHG. swelahan, swelgan, G. schwelgen to feast, to revel, Icel. svelgia to swallow, SW. svälja, Dan. svælge. Cf. Groundsel a plant.] 1. To take into the stomach; to receive through the gullet, or esophagus, into the stomach; as, to swallow food or drink.

As if I had swallowed snowballs for pills.

2. To draw into an abyss or gulf; to ingulf; to absorb -- usually followed by up. Milton.

The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses.

3. To receive or embrace, as opinions or belief, without examination or scruple; to receive implicitly.

Though that story . . . be not so readily swallowed.

4. To engross; to appropriate; -- usually with up.

Homer excels . . . in this, that he swallowed up the honor of those who succeeded him.

5. To occupy; to take up; to employ.

The necessary provision of the life swallows the greatest part of their time.

6. To seize and waste; to exhaust; to consume.

Corruption swallowed what the liberal hand
Of bounty scattered.

7. To retract; to recant; as, to swallow one's opinions. "Swallowed his vows whole." Shak.

8. To put up with; to bear patiently or without retaliation; as, to swallow an affront or insult.

Syn. -- To absorb; imbibe; ingulf; engross; consume. See Absorb.

Swal"low, v. i. To perform the act of swallowing; as, his cold is so severe he is unable to swallow.

Swal"low, n. 1. The act of swallowing.

2. The gullet, or esophagus; the throat.

3. Taste; relish; inclination; liking. [Colloq.]

I have no swallow for it.

4. Capacity for swallowing; voracity.

There being nothing too gross for the swallow of political rancor.

5. As much as is, or can be, swallowed at once; as, a swallow of water.

6. That which ingulfs; a whirlpool. [Obs.] Fabyan.

Swal"low (?), n. [OE. swalowe, AS. swalewe, swealwe; akin to D. zwaluw, OHG. swalawa, G. schwalbe, Icel. & Sw. svala, Dan. svale.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of passerine birds of the family Hirundinidæ, especially one of those species in which the tail is deeply forked. They have long, pointed wings, and are noted for the swiftness and gracefulness of their flight.

&fist; The most common North American species are the barn swallow (see under Barn), the cliff, or eaves, swallow (see under Cliff), the white-bellied, or tree, swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), and the bank swallow (see under Bank). The common European swallow (Chelidon rustica), and the window swallow, or martin (Chelidon urbica), are familiar species.

2. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of swifts which resemble the true swallows in form and habits, as the common American chimney swallow, or swift.

3. (Naut.) The aperture in a block through which the rope reeves. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Swal"low (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swallowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swallowing.] [OE. swolewen, swolwen, swolhen, AS. swelgan; akin to D. zwelgen, OHG. swelahan, swelgan, G. schwelgen to feast, to revel, Icel. svelgia to swallow, SW. svälja, Dan. svælge. Cf. Groundsel a plant.] 1. To take into the stomach; to receive through the gullet, or esophagus, into the stomach; as, to swallow food or drink.

As if I had swallowed snowballs for pills.

2. To draw into an abyss or gulf; to ingulf; to absorb -- usually followed by up. Milton.

The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses.

3. To receive or embrace, as opinions or belief, without examination or scruple; to receive implicitly.

Though that story . . . be not so readily swallowed.

4. To engross; to appropriate; -- usually with up.

Homer excels . . . in this, that he swallowed up the honor of those who succeeded him.

5. To occupy; to take up; to employ.

The necessary provision of the life swallows the greatest part of their time.

6. To seize and waste; to exhaust; to consume.

Corruption swallowed what the liberal hand
Of bounty scattered.

7. To retract; to recant; as, to swallow one's opinions. "Swallowed his vows whole." Shak.

8. To put up with; to bear patiently or without retaliation; as, to swallow an affront or insult.

Syn. -- To absorb; imbibe; ingulf; engross; consume. See Absorb.

Swal"low, v. i. To perform the act of swallowing; as, his cold is so severe he is unable to swallow.

Swal"low, n. 1. The act of swallowing.

2. The gullet, or esophagus; the throat.

3. Taste; relish; inclination; liking. [Colloq.]

I have no swallow for it.

4. Capacity for swallowing; voracity.

There being nothing too gross for the swallow of political rancor.

5. As much as is, or can be, swallowed at once; as, a swallow of water.

6. That which ingulfs; a whirlpool. [Obs.] Fabyan.

• To cause to pass from the mouth into the stomach.
  
• Small, migratory bird of the Hirundinidae family with long, pointed, moon-shaped wings and a forked tail which feeds by catching insects on the wing.
  
• The amount swallowed in one gulp; the act of swallowing.
       He took the aspirin with a single swallow of water.