Swish

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪʃ

Full definition of swish

Adjective

1. (British, colloquial) sophisticated; fashionable; smooth.This restaurant looks very swish — it even has linen tablecloths.
2. effeminate.

Noun

1. A short rustling, hissing or whistling sound, often made by friction.
2. A sound of liquid flowing inside a container.
• 1898, J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet Chapter 4There were four or five men in the vault already, and I could hear more coming down the passage, and guessed from their heavy footsteps that they were carrying burdens. There was a sound, too, of dumping kegs down on the ground, with a swish of liquor inside them, and then the noise of casks being moved.
3. A movement of an animal's tail
4. A twig or bundle of twigs, used for administering beatings; a switch
5. (basketball) A successful basketball shot that does not touch the rim or backboard.
6. An effeminate male homosexual.

Related terms

• swoosh
• whoosh

Verb

1. To make a rustling sound while moving.The cane swishes.
2. (transitive) To flourish with a swishing sound.to swish a cane back and forth
3. (transitive, slang, dated) To flog; to lash.
4. (basketball) To make a successful basketball shot that does not touch the rim or backboard.
5. (gay slang) To mince or otherwise to behave in an effeminate manner.I shall not swish; I'll merely act limp-wristed.