Legal Definitions - swell

Definition: An increase in size or volume of something. It can also refer to a gradual rise of something or a large, unbroken wave.

• A can of food that has expanded due to defective canning procedures is an example of a swell.
• After the storm, there was a rough swell that caused the shipwreck.
• The company experienced a swell of profits after launching a new product.

The first example illustrates the first definition of swell, which refers to an increase in size or volume. The second example illustrates the third definition of swell, which refers to a large, unbroken wave. The third example illustrates the second definition of swell, which refers to a gradual rise of something.