swale Meaning & Definition
What Does Swale Mean?
As a noun, swale means A low tract of moist or marshy land. It can also mean A long narrow and shallow trough between ridges on a beach, running parallel to the coastline. As a verb, it means Alternative form of sweal (“melt and waste away, or singe”).
Word Facts for Swale
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /sweɪl/ |
| Plural | swales |
| Verb forms | swales, swaling, swaled |
Swale Definition (Noun)
- A low tract of moist or marshy land.
- A long narrow and shallow trough between ridges on a beach, running parallel to the coastline.
- A shallow troughlike depression created to carry water during rainstorms or snow melts; a drainage ditch.
- Bioswale, a shallow trough dug into the land on contour (horizontally with no slope), whose purpose is to allow water time to percolate into the soil.
- A shallow, usually grassy depression sloping downward from a plains upland meadow or level vegetated ridgetop.
Noun
- A gutter in a candle.
Swale as a Verb
- Alternative form of sweal (“melt and waste away, or singe”).
Synonyms of Swale
The source does not list synonyms for this entry.
Swale synonyms and antonyms →Word Forms & Grammar
swale (plural swales)
swale (third-person singular simple present swales, present participle swaling, simple past and past participle swaled)
Words That Rhyme With Swale
Origin of Swale
Origin 1: Possibly from Middle English swale (“a shady place, a shadow”), perhaps of North Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse svalr (“cool, fresh”), Icelandic svalir (“a balcony running along a wall”).
Origin 2: See sweal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Swale
Is swale a noun or a verb?
Swale is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is the plural of swale?
The plural of swale is swales.
What is the past tense of swale?
The past tense of swale is swaled. The present participle is swaling.