SWOON

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does swoon mean? 

• SWOON (noun)
  The noun SWOON has 1 sense:

1. a spontaneous loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood to the brain

  Familiarity information: SWOON used as a noun is very rare.

• SWOON (verb)
  The verb SWOON has 1 sense:

1. pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain

  Familiarity information: SWOON used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SWOON (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A spontaneous loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood to the brain

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

deliquium; faint; swoon; syncope

Hypernyms ("swoon" is a kind of...):

loss of consciousness (the occurrence of a loss of the ability to perceive and respond)

Derivation:

swoon (pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain)

• SWOON (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they swoon    ... he / she / it swoons   
Past simple: swooned   
Past participle: swooned   
-ing form: swooning   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

conk; faint; pass out; swoon

Hypernyms (to "swoon" is one way to...):

black out; pass out; zonk out (lose consciousness due to a sudden trauma, for example)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

swoon (a spontaneous loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood to the brain)

 Context examples 

“Only for a moment, when she was in a swoon,” I softly answered.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

But there was no swooning in that superheated room.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I was struck with the utmost grief and despair at my master’s discourse; and being unable to support the agonies I was under, I fell into a swoon at his feet.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

With them went Alleyne, still bound to his saddle, still dripping with blood, and swooning and recovering, and swooning once again.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There on the bed, seemingly in a swoon, lay poor Lucy, more horribly white and wan-looking than ever.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

She turned towards Lucy in silent amazement, unable to divine the reason or object of such a declaration; and though her complexion varied, she stood firm in incredulity, and felt in no danger of an hysterical fit, or a swoon.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

My nerves vibrated to those low-spoken words as they had never vibrated to thunder—my blood felt their subtle violence as it had never felt frost or fire; but I was collected, and in no danger of swooning.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Lady Hamilton ran to his assistance, but no sooner had she glanced at the paper inclosed than she burst into a shrill scream, and throwing up her hands and her eyes, she sank backwards in a swoon.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This went on, hour after hour, while outside all the world swooned under the overhead California sun.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

And, after all, I found their natural smell was much more supportable, than when they used perfumes, under which I immediately swooned away.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)