Definition

1. Noun:
   • A stout-bodied, short-legged omnivorous mammal: Specifically refers to pigs and hogs, including both domestic and wild species.
   • A contemptible or unpleasant person: Used as a strong term of abuse for someone considered disgusting, greedy, or morally repugnant.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to the animal:
  • The farmer raised several swine for market.
  • Wild swine, such as boars, can be found in the forest.
• Used as an insult for a person:
  • After he betrayed his friends, they called him a selfish swine.
  • That greedy swine took all the credit for our work.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• The plural form is typically "swine" (e.g., ), though "swines" is occasionally used, especially when referring to people.
• The word is often used in fixed phrases and proverbial sayings.
  • "to cast pearls before swine": To offer something valuable or beautiful to someone who cannot appreciate it.

    • Explaining the subtle poetry to him was like casting pearls before swine.

Variants and Related Words

• Swineherd (n): A person who tends to pigs.
  • The swineherd led the pigs to the oak grove.
• Swine flu (n): A type of influenza virus that originated in pigs.
  • There was a global concern about the spread of swine flu.

Synonyms

• Pig / Hog: The most common synonyms for the animal.
• Cad / Scoundrel / Reprobate: Synonyms when used as an insult for a person.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear": You cannot make something excellent from poor-quality materials.
  • He tried to reform the dishonest politician, but you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Noun

1. stout-bodied short-legged omnivorous animals