swivel

C2 Topic:Space, Position & Direction

US /ˈswɪvəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #29700

Meanings

1

verb
To turn or swing around on a central point, as on a pivot.

She swivelled in her chair to face the window.
2

noun
A joint or fastening that lets one part rotate freely.

The chair is mounted on a swivel so it can turn in any direction.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to turn or swing around on... pivot

Word family

Forms swiveledswivelingswivelledswivellingswivels

Derived forms swivel-chairswivel-eyedswivel-hippedswivelly

Etymology

From Middle English swyvel, swivel, from a derivative of Old English swīfan (“to revolve”), + -el, an instrumental suffix, equivalent to swive + -el.

swyvel Middle English swīfan Old English

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# swivel

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈswɪvəl/
**Frequency rank:** 29700

## Meanings
1. To turn or swing around on a central point, as on a pivot.
2. A joint or fastening that lets one part rotate freely.

## Examples
- She swivelled in her chair to face the window.
- The chair is mounted on a swivel so it can turn in any direction.

## Derived Forms
- swivel-chair
- swivel-eyed
- swivel-hipped
- swivelly

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: swyvel
- Root: swīfan

## Etymology
From Middle English swyvel, swivel, from a derivative of Old English swīfan (“to revolve”), + -el, an instrumental suffix, equivalent to swive + -el.

## AI Etymology
Swivel is from Middle English swyvel, swivel, from a derivative of Old English swīfan (“to revolve”), + -el, an instrumental suffix, equivalent to swive + -el. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include swyvel (Middle English) and swīfan (Old English). Current senses include to turn or swing around on a central point, as on a pivot and a joint or fastening that lets one part rotate freely. The wider family includes derived forms such as swivel-chair, swivel-eyed, swivel-hipped, and swivelly.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction

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swivel

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