swivel: Meaning and Definition of

swiv•el

Pronunciation: (swiv'ul), [key]
— n., v., -eled, -el•ing -elled, -el•ling.
—n.
  1. a fastening device that allows the thing fastened to turn around freely upon it, esp. to turn in a full circle.
  2. such a device consisting of two parts, each of which turns around independently, as a compound link of a chain, one part of which turns freely in the other by means of a headed pin or the like.
  3. a pivoted support allowing a gun to turn around in a horizontal plane.
  4. a swivel gun.
  5. a device attached to a loom and used as a shuttle to weave extra threads in the production of small figures, esp. dots.
—v.t.
  1. to turn or pivot on or as if on a swivel: He swiveled his chair around.
  2. to fasten by a swivel; furnish with a swivel.
—v.i.
  1. to turn on or if as on a swivel.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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