To move through the water, without touching the bottom; to propel oneself in water by natural means.
We were now all upon a Level, as to our travelling; being unshipp’d, for our Bark would swim no farther, and she was too heavy to carry on our Backs […]1720, Daniel Defoe, Captain Singleton, London: J. Brotherton, page 87:
He turned back to the scene before him and the enormous new block of council dwellings. The design was some way after Corbusier but the block was built up on plinths and resembled an Atlantic liner swimming diagonally across the site.1963, Margery Allingham, “Foreword”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
1 more example
Meanwhile, NR faced an unexpected challenge when a night watchman spotted several Koi Carp swimming in floodwater close to the railway, after they had escaped from a nearby private residence. Wilson says the owner was eventually traced, and the fish were safely returned "after enjoying swimming around in a 3,000-acre lake".2020 May 20, Paul Stephen, “NR beats floods to secure tracks to Drax”, in Rail, page 59:
2
To become immersed in, or as if in, or flooded with, or as if with, a liquid.
swimming in self-pity
a bare few bits of meat swimming in watery sauce
3
To move around freely because of excess space.
A fam'd Sur-tout he wears, which once was blue, / And his foot swims in a capacious shoe.1777, The Poetical Preceptor; Or, a Collection of Select Pieces of Poetry, Etc:
4
To traverse (a specific body of water, or a specific distance) by swimming; or, to use a specific swimming stroke; or, to compete in a specific swimming event.
For exercise, we like to swim laps around the pool.
I want to swim the 200-yard breaststroke in the finals.
1 more example
Sometimes he thought to swim the stormy main.1697, Virgil, “The Tenth Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
Why, now, blow wind, swell billow, and swim bark! The storm is up and all is on the hazard.1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Kings 6:6:
7
To be overflowed or drenched.
I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 6:6:
Sudden, the ditches ſwell; the meadows ſwim.a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Autumn”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC, page 127, line 336:
8
To immerse in water to make the lighter parts float.
to swim wheat in order to select seed
9
Historical To test (a suspected witch) by throwing into a river; those who floated rather than sinking were deemed to be witches.
A dance or dance move of the 1960s in which the arms are moved in imitation of various swimming strokes, such as freestyle, breaststroke, etc.
C'mon everybody! C'mon in! Bobby's goin' to show you how to do the swim.1964, “C'mon and Swim”, Thomas Coman and Sylvester Stewart (Sly Stone) (lyrics), performed by Bobby Freeman:
5
Figuratively The flow of events; being in the swim of things.
With the road ahead now clear, Mann […] is plunging back into the swim of business in a hurry.1948 September 18, Billboard, page 104:
Etymology From Middle English swime, sweme, swaime (“a dizziness, swoon, trance”), from Old English swīma (“a swoon, swimming in the head”). Cognate with Swedish svimma (“to swoon, faint”) and Danish svime (“to swoon, faint”) / Danish besvime (“to swoon, faint”).
1
A dizziness; swoon.
swim
verb
Etymology From Middle English swime, sweme, swaime (“a dizziness, swoon, trance”), from Old English swīma (“a swoon, swimming in the head”). Cognate with Swedish svimma (“to swoon, faint”) and Danish svime (“to swoon, faint”) / Danish besvime (“to swoon, faint”).
1
To be dizzy or vertiginous; have a giddy sensation; to have, or appear to have, a whirling motion.
My head was swimming after drinking two bottles of cheap wine.
She snatched the letter from Sir Jasper, who started as her icy hand touched his: she attempted to read the passage herself, but the letters seemed to swim before her gaze: they turned to fire; the paper dropped from her grasp; a thick mist appeared to gather over the room; she gave a convulsive shudder, and dropped on the floor perfectly insensible.1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The End of Doubt”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 291: