Word forms: plural swineslanguage note: The form swines is used as the plural for meaning [sense 1]; swine is used as both the singular and plural for meaning [sense 2].
1. countable noun
If you call someone a swine, you dislike them or think that they are a bad person, usually because they have behaved unpleasantly towards you.
[informal, disapproval]
2. countable noun
A swine is a pig.
[technical, old-fashioned]
...imports of live swine from Canada.
...pigs with swine fever.
3. to cast pearls before swine
swine in British English
(swaɪn)
noun
1. Word forms: pluralswines
a coarse or contemptible person
2. Word forms: pluralswine another name for a pig
Derived forms
swinelike (ˈswineˌlike)
adjective
swinish (ˈswinish)
adjective
swinishly (ˈswinishly)
adverb
swinishness (ˈswinishness)
noun
Word origin
Old English swīn; related to Old Norse svīn, Gothic swein, Latin suīnus relating to swine
swine in American English
(swaɪn)
nounWord forms: pluralswine
1.
any of a family (Suidae) of omnivorous, artiodactylous mammals with a bristly coat and elongated, flexible snout; esp., a domesticated pig or hog
usually used collectively
2.
a vicious, contemptible, or disgusting person
Word origin
ME swin < OE, akin to Ger schwein < IE base *su-, pig, sow > Gr hys, sow2, L sus
More idioms containing
swine
cast pearls before swine
Word lists with
swine
collective nouns
All related terms of 'swine'
swine flu
a respiratory disease of pigs caused by a swine influenza virus, characterized by influenza-like symptoms such as chills , fever, sore throat , muscle pains, severe headache , coughing , weakness and general discomfort
swine fever
an infectious viral disease of pigs , characterized by fever , refusal to eat, weight loss, and diarrhoea
swine's cress
either of two prostrate annuals , Coronopus squamatus and C. didymus, having small white flowers: family Brassicaceae ( crucifers )
African swine fever
a highly contagious fatal disease of pigs caused by a myxovirus . The disease is characterized by fever , blotches on the skin, depression , and lack of coordination
swine vesicular disease
a viral disease of swine characterized by vesicular lesions on the feet, legs, snout , and tongue
cast pearls before swine
to waste your time by offering something that is helpful or valuable to someone who does not appreciate or understand it
to cast pearls before swine
If you say that someone is casting pearls before swine , you mean that they are wasting their time by offering something that is helpful or valuable to someone who does not appreciate or understand it.
hog cholera
an infectious viral disease of hogs , characterized by fever, loss of appetite , diarrhea, and frequently by congestion and hemorrhages in the kidneys