a state of steady vigorous action that is characteristic of an activity
"the party went with a swing"
"it took time to get into the swing of things"
mechanical device used as a plaything to support someone swinging back and forth
"The children spent their afternoon chasing each other on the playground swing until it was time for dinner."
changing location by moving back and forth
"The old porch swing creaked gently as it moved back and forth under the summer sun."
a style of jazz played by big bands popular in the 1930s; flowing rhythms but less complex than later styles of jazz
"After hearing about the vintage record, she decided to learn how to dance the swing that defined those energetic 1930s big band performances."
the act of swinging a golf club at a golf ball and (usually) hitting it
"He adjusted his stance before taking a smooth swing to send the ball soaring down the fairway."
in baseball; a batter's attempt to hit a pitched ball
"he took a vicious cut at the ball"
a square dance figure; a pair of dancers join hands and dance around a point between them
"When the caller signaled for the swing, I quickly joined hands with my partner to spin us around our shared center."
The manner in which something is swung.
"The way he swings his golf club makes for a powerful drive but often leads to missed shots."
In plain English: A swing is a seat that hangs from ropes or chains and moves back and forth when you push off the ground.
"The children played on the swing at the park."
move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
"He swung his left fist"
"swing a bat"
alternate dramatically between high and low values
"his mood swings"
"the market is swinging up and down"
live in a lively, modern, and relaxed style
"The Woodstock generation attempted to swing freely"
be a social swinger; socialize a lot
"After moving to the city, he quickly became known as a swing because he was always at parties or grabbing drinks with new friends every night."
play with a subtle and intuitively felt sense of rhythm
"She loved to swing her feet in time with the music, letting her body find the beat without thinking about it."
engage freely in promiscuous sex, often with the husband or wife of one's friends
"There were many swinging couples in the 1960's"
To rotate about an off-centre fixed point.
"The door swung open on its loose hinges, creaking as it rotated around the misaligned pivot."
In plain English: To swing is to move back and forth or from side to side, like a playground seat.
"The child likes to swing on the playground set with his friends."
Usage: Use this verb to describe moving back and forth or rotating around a pivot, such as swinging on a playground settee or the pendulum of a clock. Distinguish it from similar motions by emphasizing the arc created when one end remains relatively stationary while the other moves freely.
A surname.
"After meeting his family for dinner, John introduced me to Uncle Swing, who owns a small bakery in town."
The word "swing" comes from Old English and originally meant to move back and forth or rotate. It traveled into modern English with this same core meaning of swinging motion.