свива́ть

rare #48325

verbimperfective perfective is свить

1.
to twist, to twine, to wind, to weave
Она́ свива́ла вено́к из полевы́х цветов.
She was twining a wreath of wildflowers.
Perfective: свить. Of rope, thread, garlands.
2.
to build (a nest)
Ла́сточки свива́ют гнёзда под кры́шей.
Swallows build their nests under the roof.
Almost always in the phrase свивать гнездо.
3.
to roll up, to coil up, to wind up
Он свива́л верёвку в кольцо́.
He was coiling the rope into a loop.
4.
(rare) to swaddle
Раньше младе́нцев ту́го свива́ли.
In the past babies were swaddled tightly.
Old-fashioned; of wrapping an infant tightly.
5.
(rare) to unwind, to reel off
Ба́бушка свива́ла ни́тки с кату́шки.
Grandma was winding the thread off the spool.

Examples

Две пти́цы свива́ли гнездо́ без разреше́ния на строи́тельство.
The two birds were building a nest without a building permit.
Птицы свивают гнездо из веток и травы.
Birds build a nest from branches and grass.
Она свивает нити в тонкую верёвку.
She twists the threads into a thin rope.

Imperative
ты	свива́й
вы	свива́йте

Active present	свива́ющий	coiling, twisting, winding, rolling up
Active past	свива́вший	winding, coiling, twisting
Passive present	свиваемый	windable, coilable, that can be wound/coiled
Passive past	-
Gerund present	свива́я	while doing (present)
Gerund past	свивав свивавши	while doing (past)