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View synonyms for

swivel

[ swiv-uhl ]

noun

  1. a fastening device that allows the thing fastened to turn around freely upon it, especially to turn in a full circle.
  2. such a device consisting of two parts, each of which turns around independently, as a compound link of a chain, one part of which turns freely in the other by means of a headed pin or the like.
  3. a pivoted support allowing a gun to turn around in a horizontal plane.
  4. a device attached to a loom and used as a shuttle to weave extra threads in the production of small figures, especially dots.


verb (used with object)

swiveled, swiveling or (especially British) swivelled, swivelling.
  1. to turn or pivot on or as if on a swivel:

    He swiveled his chair around.

  2. to fasten by a swivel; furnish with a swivel.

verb (used without object)

swiveled, swiveling or (especially British) swivelled, swivelling.
  1. to turn on or if as on a swivel.

swivel

/ ˈɪə /

noun

  1. a coupling device which allows an attached object to turn freely
  2. such a device made of two parts which turn independently, such as a compound link of a chain
    1. a pivot on which is mounted a gun that may be swung from side to side in a horizontal plane
    2. Also calledswivel gun the gun itself
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to turn or swing on or as if on a pivot
  2. tr to provide with, secure by, or support with a swivel
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈɾ-ˌ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • ɾı· adjective
  • ܲ·ɾı verb (used with object) unswiveled unswiveling or (especially British) unswivelled unswivelling
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Word History and Origins

Origin of swivel1

1275–1325; Middle English (noun), equivalent to swiv- (weak stem of Old English īڲ to revolve; cognate with Old Norse īڲ to turn) + -el instrumental suffix
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Word History and Origins

Origin of swivel1

C14: from Old English īڲ to turn; see swift
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Trump’s tariffs have kept much of the world’s collective heads on a swivel.

From

For the second she controlled a cross at waist height before swivelling and netting with a half-volley,

From

We swirl our arms above our heads, run our hands through our hair, swivel our hips and swing our butts.

From

“It was a normal day,” he began, twirling on the swivel chair in the Monrovia Marriott’s ADA suite where his family was staying 14 days after the fire.

From

“You can swivel and make really quick adjustments in a way that you can’t physically do with the camera on your shoulder.”

From

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swiveswivel chair