Moving suddenly and sharply to one side or changing direction abruptly, especially to avoid something or someone.
From Old English 'sweorfan' (to turn or wipe away), possibly related to Old Norse sources. The word evolved from a general meaning of 'turning' to the specific modern sense of sudden lateral movement, becoming especially common with the rise of motor vehicle language.
Your body's ability to swerve is controlled by your cerebellum—the small part of your brain at the back—which processes balance and quick directional changes. Professional drivers train for years to swerve smoothly and safely because sudden swerves at high speed can actually cause rollovers!
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