dwell Meaning & Definition
What Does Dwell Mean?
As a noun, dwell means A period of time in which a system or component remains in a given state. It is also used to mean A brief pause in the motion of part of a mechanism to allow an operation to be completed. As a verb, it means To live; to reside. As a verb, it means To linger (on) a particular thought, idea etc.; to remain fixated (on).
Dwell: Key Facts
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /dwɛl/ |
| Synonyms | brood, lie and worry |
| Plural | dwells |
| Verb forms | dwells, dwelling, dwelt |
Dwell Definition (Noun)
- A period of time in which a system or component remains in a given state.
- A brief pause in the motion of part of a mechanism to allow an operation to be completed.
- A planned delay in a timed control program.
- In a petrol engine, the period of time the ignition points are closed to let current flow through the ignition coil in between each spark. This is measured as an angle in degrees around the camshaft in the distributor which controls the points, for example in a 4-cylinder engine it might be 55° (spark at 90° intervals, points closed for 55° between each).
Dwell as a Verb
- To live; to reside.
- To linger (on); to remain fixated. [with on ‘a particular thought, idea, etc.’]
Stop dwelling on the past!
- To be in a given state.
- To abide; to remain; to continue.
Verb
- To linger (on) a particular thought, idea etc.; to remain fixated (on).
Synonyms of Dwell
Dwell synonyms and antonyms →Dwell in a Sentence
Stop dwelling on the past!
Word Forms & Grammar
dwell (plural dwells)
dwell (third-person singular simple present dwells, present participle dwelling, simple past and past participle dwelt or (chiefly US) dwelled)
Words That Rhyme With Dwell
Origin of Dwell
From Middle English dwellen (“delay, live, remain, persist”), from Old English dwellan (“to mislead, deceive; be led into error, stray”), from Proto-Germanic *dwaljaną (“to hold up, delay; hesitate”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰwelH- (“to whirl, swirl, blur, obfuscate”), which is cognate with Old Norse dvelja and related to Proto-Germanic *dwelaną (“to go astray”), which underwent semantic change in its descendants.[1] Cognates include Danish dvæle (“to linger, dwell”) and Swedish dväljas (“to dwell, reside”).
Quick Answers About Dwell
Is dwell a noun or a verb?
Dwell is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for dwell?
Words with a similar meaning to dwell include brood, lie and worry. See the full list of dwell synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of dwell?
The plural of dwell is dwells.
What is the past tense of dwell?
The past tense of dwell is dwelt. The present participle is dwelling.