Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Middle English forms of sweet.
  • noun Same as swat.
  • See swat.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb intransitive, slang, UK To study with effort or determination.
  • verb transitive, slang, UK To study something with effort or determination (swot up on).
  • noun slang, UK one who swots
  • noun slang, UK work
  • noun slang, UK vigorous study at an educational institution

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an insignificant student who is ridiculed as being affected or boringly studious
  • verb study intensively, as before an exam

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From sweat.

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Examples

  • Even at his preparatory school, where he was known as a swot of the first water, he had displayed an unhealthy infatuation for that tongue; he loved its cold, lapidary construction; and while other boys played football or cricket, this withered little fellow used to lark about with a note-book, all by himself, torturing sensible

    South Wind Norman Douglas 1910

  • Now I heard John Pienaar try and spin it that Ed Balls actually said "swot" and I hear that John Pienaar later changed that to "so weak".

    "So what" Not a sheep 2008

  • Now I heard John Pienaar try and spin it that Ed Balls actually said "swot" and I hear that John Pienaar later changed that to "so weak".

    Archive 2008-03-01 Not a sheep 2008

  • I was stoned by a gang of cretins and suckers-up to cretins for being a "swot".

    Undergraduates are more than their parents bank balance 2008

  • I know it's always been there, but the aggressive and occasionally horrifying disdain I've seen meted out to my nieces and nephews is in another league compared to the mild joshing I received for being a "swot", and which was always countered by the protection and drive to succeed that the vast majority of my teachers displayed.

    Word Magazine - Comments 2009

  • Even so, Nishikori can swot up on the Scot's game with his coach Brad Gilbert, the father of a former room-mate and more significantly, Murray's coach for 16 months between 2006 and 2007.

    Andy Murray v Kei Nishikori – live! | Steve Busfield 2012

  • Even so, Nishikori can swot up on the Scot's game with his coach Brad Gilbert, the father of a former room-mate and more significantly, Murray's coach for 16 months between 2006 and 2007.

    Australian Open 2012: Ivan Lendl to help Andy Murray take the next step 2012

  • I don't see him becoming another Wesley Crusher, because first he seems quite a bit older (maybe 10 years?) and second he is much more a geek and less the skinny swot that Wesley was.

    How Did You Like the Series Premiere of Stargate Universe? 2009

  • Over my cup of tea, I decided to swot up a bit on the royal wedding.

    Kim Carillo: From New York With Love Kim Carillo 2011

  • Over my cup of tea, I decided to swot up a bit on the royal wedding.

    Kim Carillo: From New York With Love Kim Carillo 2011

  • He had done a Swot analysis – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats – and concluded that preparing for calamity required us to take the very same measures as trying to prevent one.

    The super-rich ‘preppers’ planning to save themselves from the apocalypse Douglas Rushkoff 2023

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