swimming

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• IPA^(key): /ˈswɪmɪŋ/

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• Rhymes: -ɪmɪŋ

From Middle English swymmynge. Equivalent to swim (“to move through water”, verb) +‎ -ing (suffix forming gerunds).

swimming (countable and uncountable, plural swimmings)

1. The act or art of sustaining and propelling the body in water.

• swimming bath
• swimming cap
• swimming pool
• synchronised swimming, synchronized swimming

From swim (“to be dizzy”, verb) +‎ -ing (suffix forming gerunds).

swimming (countable and uncountable, plural swimmings)

1. The state of being dizzy or in vertigo.

   the swimming of my head the day after heavy drinking

   • 1602, A New and Short Defense of Tabacco: with the effectes of the same: and of the right vse thereof, London: Clement Knight, “Rule”, page unnumbered:

     Then I take my pipe of Tabacco, sitting close by a warme fire, the space of halfe an houre and more, vntill the giddinesse and swimming in my head be past, and the medicine also haue done it feate : then I vse to gargle my mouth with a cuppe of beere, well warmed with a toste.

   • 1624, Philip Barrough, The Method of Physick, Contaning the Cavses, Signes, and Cvres of Inward Diseases in Mans Body, From the Head to the Foote: […], 6th edition, London: Richard Field, page 134:

     But when the worms are killed with the aforesaid medicines, you must driue them out without delay : for there proceedeth a vicious exhalation from them, which both destroyeth appetite, and hurteth digestion, and being lifted vpward, it causeth swimmings, and other euils.

   • 1640, John Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicum: The Theater of Plants. Or, an Herball of Large Extent: […], London, page 552:

     [The Speedwell] doth also wonderfully helpe the memory, and to ease all turnings and swimmings, and other paines of the head, and as it is sayd helpeth women to become fruitfull, that were barren[.]

See the etymology of the main entry.

swimming

1. present participle of swim