If you swallow something, you cause it to go from your mouth down into your stomach.

If you swallow, you make a movement in your throat as if you are swallowing something, often because you are nervous or frightened.

If someone swallows a story or a statement, they believe it completely.

If you swallow your feelings, you do not express them, although you want to very much.

A swallow is a kind of small bird with pointed wings and a forked tail.