sweep

sweep
I. verb (swept; sweeping) Etymology: Middle English swepen; akin to Old English swāpan to sweep, Old High German sweifen to wander Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to remove from a surface with or as if with a broom or brush <
swept the crumbs from the table
>
b. to destroy completely ; wipe out — usually used with away <
everything she cherished, might be swept away overnight — Louis Bromfield
>
c. to remove or take with a single continuous forceful action <
swept the books off the desk
>
d. to remove from sight or consideration <
the problem can't be swept under the rug
>
e. to drive or carry along with irresistible force <
a wave of protest that swept the opposition into office
>
2. a. to clean with or as if with a broom or brush b. to clear by repeated and forcible action c. to move across or along swiftly, violently, or overwhelmingly <
fire swept the business district — American Guide Series: Maryland
>
d. to win an overwhelming victory in or on <
sweep the elections
>
e. to win all the games or contests of <
sweep a double-header
>
<
sweep a series
>
3. to touch in passing with a swift continuous movement 4. to trace or describe the locus or extent of (as a line, circle, or angle) 5. to cover the entire range of <
his eyes swept the horizon
>
intransitive verb 1. a. to clean a surface with or as if with a broom b. to move swiftly, forcefully, or devastatingly <
the wind swept through the treetops
>
2. to go with stately or sweeping movements <
proudly swept into the room
>
3. to move or extend in a wide curve or range II. noun Date: 1548 1. something that sweeps or works with a sweeping motion: as a. a long pole or timber pivoted on a tall post and used to raise and lower a bucket in a well b. a triangular cultivator blade that cuts off weeds under the soil surface c. a windmill sail 2. a. an instance of sweeping; especially a clearing out or away with or as if with a broom b. the removal from the table in one play in casino of all the cards by pairing or combining c. an overwhelming victory d. a winning of all the contests or prizes in a competition e. a wide-ranging search of an area (as by police) 3. a. a movement of great range and force b. a curving or circular course or line c. the compass of a sweeping movement ; scope d. a broad unbroken area or extent <
a sweep of wildflowers
>
e. an end run in football in which one or more linemen pull back and run interference for the ballcarrier 4. chimney sweep 5. sweepstakes 6. obliquity with respect to a reference line <
sweep of an airplane wing
>
; especially sweepback 7. plural a television ratings period during which surveys are taken to determine advertising rates Synonyms: see range

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Sweep — may refer to any of the following:Cleaning * Chimney sweep * Street sweeper * To clean using a broom or brushBoating* A kind of oar used for guiding bateaus and similar boats * In sport rowing, a boat that has only one oar per rowerports* Sweep… …   Wikipedia

  • Sweep — Sweep, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Swept}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Sweeping}.] [OE. swepen; akin to AS. sw[=a]pan. See {Swoop}, v. i.] 1. To pass a broom across (a surface) so as to remove loose dirt, dust, etc.; to brush, or rub over, with a broom for the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sweep — Sweep, n. 1. The act of sweeping. [1913 Webster] 2. The compass or range of a stroke; as, a long sweep. [1913 Webster] 3. The compass of any turning body or of any motion; as, the sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye. [1913 Webster] 4. The… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sweep — Sweep, n. 1. The act of sweeping. [1913 Webster] 2. The compass or range of a stroke; as, a long sweep. [1913 Webster] 3. The compass of any turning body or of any motion; as, the sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye. [1913 Webster] 4. The… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sweep — bezeichnet: Sweep (Sport), eine Siegesserie im Sport Sweep (Grafik), ein Verfahren in der Computergrafik Sweep Picking, eine Spieltechnik der Gitarre Sweep (Informatik), ein Verfahren in der Informatik Sweep (Software), ein Audioeditor für Linux… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • sweep — [swēp] vt. swept, sweeping [ME swepen, akin to (or ? altered <) OE swapan: see SWOOP] 1. to clear or clean (a surface, room, etc.) as by brushing with a broom 2. to remove or clear away (dirt, debris, etc.) as with a broom or brushing movement …   English World dictionary

  • sweep — ► VERB (past and past part. swept) 1) clean (an area) by brushing away dirt or litter. 2) move or push with great force. 3) (sweep away/aside) remove or abolish swiftly and suddenly. 4) search or survey (an area). 5) pass or traverse swiftly and… …   English terms dictionary

  • sweep — [n1] range, extent ambit, breadth, compass, extension, latitude, length, orbit, purview, radius, reach, region, scope, span, stretch, vista; concepts 651,756,788 sweep [n2] movement arc, bend, course, curve, gesture, move, play, progress, stroke …   New thesaurus

  • sweep — (v.) c.1300, perhaps from a past tense form of M.E. swope sweep, from O.E. swapan to sweep (transitive & intransitive); see SWOOP (Cf. swoop). The noun meaning range, extent is attested from 1679; in ref. to police or military actions, it is… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Sweep — Sweep, v. i. 1. To clean rooms, yards, etc., or to clear away dust, dirt, litter, etc., with a broom, brush, or the like. [1913 Webster] 2. To brush swiftly over the surface of anything; to pass with switness and force, as if brushing the surface …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sweep — Sweep. См. Вращающийся шаблон. (Источник: «Металлы и сплавы. Справочник.» Под редакцией Ю.П. Солнцева; НПО Профессионал , НПО Мир и семья ; Санкт Петербург, 2003 г.) …   Словарь металлургических терминов

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