sweep

sweep
I UK [swiːp] / US [swɪp] verb
Word forms "sweep":
present tense I/you/we/they sweep he/she/it sweeps present participle sweeping past tense swept UK [swept] / US past participle swept
**
1)
a) [intransitive/transitive] to clean a floor, the ground, or another surface using a broom (= brush with a long handle)

After you've swept, you can do the washing-up.

Her work consisted mainly of making coffee and sweeping the floor.

I want you to sweep up the garage.

b) [transitive] to clean something such as a chimney with a long brush

Little children used to be used to sweep chimneys.

2) [intransitive/transitive] to move or spread quickly through an area

Youngsters are risking their lives in a dangerous craze which is sweeping the country.

sweep across:

The hurricane swept across the Gulf of California.

sweep through:

Fire swept through the building.

3)
a) [transitive] to move something or someone with powerful force

The flood waters swept the car downstream.

He was swept along the street by dozens of supporters.

b) [transitive] to move or to carry something or someone away with a quick smooth movement

He swept his son into his arms.

4)
a) [intransitive] to go somewhere quickly and confidently
sweep into/past/by etc:

She swept into the office and announced she could only stay ten minutes.

b) [intransitive] to move quickly and smoothly without stopping for anyone or anything
sweep past/through/along etc:

The limousine carrying the ambassador swept through the gates.

5)
a) [intransitive/transitive] to look over every part of someone or something in one continuous movement of your eyes

Her gaze swept the room and she frowned.

As she spoke, her eyes swept over her daughter.

b) [transitive] to shine a light in a circular or curved movement over an area, especially in order to search for something
6) [intransitive] to stretch over a large area, especially in a long wide curve

The scenery was beautiful, with cool green forests sweeping down the hillsides.

7)
a) [transitive] to win something easily
b) to win all of the games in a series or all of the top places in a competition
•

sweep to/from power — to win or lose an election by a very large number of votes

The Party swept to power in elections the following year.

Phrasal verbs:
II UK [swiːp] / US [swɪp] noun
Word forms "sweep":
singular sweep plural sweeps
*
1) [countable, usually singular] a long wide curved area of land or water

Not far away was the great sweep of the Radnor Forest.

2) [countable] a long smooth curved movement
sweep of:

He threw the gun aside with a sweep of his arm.

3) [singular] a range of different things that together form a larger unit
sweep of:

the broad sweep of history

4) [countable] informal a chimney sweep
5) [countable, usually singular] a search of an area made by soldiers or police officers
6) [singular] an act of sweeping something

She gave the floor a quick sweep.

•
See:

English dictionary. 2014.

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Synonyms:
(with a broom), , , , , / , (in passing), , , , , / , , , , , / , , , , / , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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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