Noun

1. The act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon.
2. A rocking or swinging motion.
3. Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side; as, the sway of desires.

   I doubt I'll hold much sway with someone so powerful.

4. Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.
5. Rule; dominion; control.
6. A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.
7. The maximum amplitude of a vehicle's lateral motion

Verb

1. To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock.

   The trees swayed in the breeze.

2. To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield; as, to sway the scepter.
3. To influence or direct by power, authority, persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide. Cf. persuade

   Do you think you can sway their decision?

4. To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; warp; as, reeds swayed by wind

   judgment swayed by passion

5. To hoist

   to sway up the yards

6. To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.
7. To have weight or influence.
8. To bear sway; to rule; to govern.