v. t. | 1. | To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield; |
2. | To influence or direct by power and authority; by persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide. | |
3. | To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; warp; | |
4. | (Naut.) To hoist; | |
v. i. | 1. | To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline. |
2. | To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward. | |
3. | To have weight or influence. | |
4. | To bear sway; to rule; to govern. | |
n. | 1. | The act of swaying; a swaying motion; the swing or sweep of a weapon. |
2. | Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side; | |
3. | Preponderance; turn or cast of balance. | |
4. | Rule; dominion; control. | |
5. | A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work. |
Noun | 1. | sway - controlling influence |
2. | sway - pitching dangerously to one side | |
Verb | 1. | sway - move back and forth or sideways; "the ship was rocking"; "the tall building swayed"; "She rocked back and forth on her feet" |
2. | sway - move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner; "He swung back" Synonyms: swing | |
3. | sway - win approval or support for; "Carry all before one"; "His speech did not sway the voters" | |
4. | sway - cause to move back and forth; "rock the cradle"; "rock the baby"; "the wind swayed the trees gently" Synonyms: rock |