Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Swallow \Swal"low\, n. [OE. swalowe, AS. swalewe, swealwe; akin
   to D. zwaluw, OHG. swalawa, G. schwalbe, Icel. & Sw. svala,
   Dan. svale.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of passerine birds
      of the family {Hirundinid[ae]}, 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.

   Note: 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. (Zo["o]l.) 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.

   {Swallow plover} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of
      fork-tailed ploverlike birds of the genus {Glareola}, as
      {G. orientalis} of India; a pratincole.

   {Swallow shrike} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of
      East Indian and Asiatic birds of the family
      {Artamiid[ae]}, allied to the shrikes but similar to
      swallows in appearance and habits. The ashy swallow shrike
      ({Artamus fuscus}) is common in India.

   {Swallow warbler} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of
      East Indian and Australian singing birds of the genus
      {Dic[ae]um}. They are allied to the honeysuckers.

Swallow \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.
   sv["a]lja, Dan. sv[ae]lge. 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. --Shak.

   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.                     --Num. xvi.
                                                  32.

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

            Though that story . . . be not so readily swallowed.
                                                  --Sir T.
                                                  Browne.

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

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

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

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

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

            Corruption swallowed what the liberal hand Of bounty
            scattered.                            --Thomson.

   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}.

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

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.             --Massinger.

   4. Capacity for swallowing; voracity.

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

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

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

Source : WordNet®

swallow
     v 1: pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking;
          "Swallow the raw fish--it won't kill you!" [syn: {get
          down}]
     2: engulf and destroy; "The Nazis swallowed the Baltic
        countries"
     3: enclose or envelop completely, as if by swallowing; "The
        huge waves swallowed the small boat and it sank shortly
        thereafter" [syn: {immerse}, {swallow up}, {bury}, {eat up}]
     4: utter indistinctly; "She swallowed the last words of her
        speech"
     5: take back what one has said; "He swallowed his words" [syn:
        {take back}, {unsay}, {withdraw}]
     6: keep from expressing; "I swallowed my anger and kept quiet"
     7: tolerate or accommodate oneself to; "I shall have to accept
        these unpleasant working conditions"; "I swallowed the
        insult"; "She has learned to live with her husband's
        little idiosyncracies" [syn: {accept}, {live with}]
     8: believe or accept without questioning or challenge; "Am I
        supposed to swallow that story?"

swallow
     n 1: a small amount of liquid food; "a sup of ale" [syn: {sup}]
     2: the act of swallowing; "one swallow of the liquid was
        enough"; "he took a drink of his beer and smacked his
        lips" [syn: {drink}, {deglutition}]
     3: small long-winged songbird noted for swift graceful flight
        and the regularity of its migrations