sweep
Noun · VerbWordNet 3.0
Noun (6)
- a wide scope“the sweep of the plains”Synonyms: expanse
- someone who cleans soot from chimneysSynonyms: chimneysweeperchimneysweep
- winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridgeSynonyms: slam
- a long oar used in an open boatSynonyms: sweep oar
- (American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running around the end of the lineSynonyms: end run
- a movement in an arc“a sweep of his arm”
Verb (9)
- sweep across or over“Her long skirt brushed the floor”“A gasp swept cross the audience”Synonyms: brush
- move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions“The diva swept into the room”“Shreds of paper sailed through the air”“The searchlights swept across the sky”Synonyms: sail
- sweep with a broom or as if with a broom“Sweep the crumbs off the table”“Sweep under the bed”Synonyms: broom
- force into some kind of situation, condition, or course of action“They were swept up by the events”“don't drag me into this business”Synonyms: embroiltanglesweep updragdrag in
- to cover or extend over an area or time period“Rivers traverse the valley floor", "The parking lot spans 3 acres”“The novel spans three centuries”Synonyms: crosstraversespan
- clean by sweeping“Please sweep the floor”
- win an overwhelming victory in or on“Her new show dog swept all championships”
- cover the entire range of
- make a big sweeping gesture or movementSynonyms: swingswing out
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
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 compass of anything flowing or brushing; as, the flood carried away everything within its sweep. [1913 Webster]
5.Violent and general destruction; as, the sweep of an epidemic disease. [1913 Webster]
6.Direction and extent of any motion not rectlinear; as, the sweep of a compass. [1913 Webster]
7.Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, or the like, away from a rectlinear line. [1913 Webster]
The road which makes a small sweep.— Sir W. Scott.[1913 Webster]
8.One who sweeps; a sweeper; specifically, a chimney sweeper. [1913 Webster]
9.(Founding) A movable templet for making molds, in loam molding. [1913 Webster]
10.(Naut.) (a) The mold of a ship when she begins to curve in at the rungheads; any part of a ship shaped in a segment of a circle. (b) A large oar used in small vessels, partly to propel them and partly to steer them. [1913 Webster]
11.(Refining) The almond furnace. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
12.A long pole, or piece of timber, moved on a horizontal fulcrum fixed to a tall post and used to raise and lower a bucket in a well for drawing water. [Variously written swape, sweep, swepe, and swipe.] [1913 Webster]
13.(Card Playing) In the game of casino, a pairing or combining of all the cards on the board, and so removing them all; in whist, the winning of all the tricks (thirteen) in a hand; a slam. [1913 Webster]
14.pl. The sweeping of workshops where precious metals are worked, containing filings, etc. [1913 Webster]
Sweep net, a net for drawing over a large compass.
Sweep of the tiller (Naut.), a circular frame on which the tiller traverses. [1913 Webster]
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 purpose of cleaning; as, to sweep a floor, the street, or a chimney. Used also figuratively. [1913 Webster]
I will sweep it with the besom of destruction.— Isa. xiv. 23.[1913 Webster]
2.To drive or carry along or off with a broom or a brush, or as if with a broom; to remove by, or as if by, brushing; as, to sweep dirt from a floor; the wind sweeps the snow from the hills; a freshet sweeps away a dam, timber, or rubbish; a pestilence sweeps off multitudes. [1913 Webster]
The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies.— Isa. xxviii. 17.[1913 Webster]
I have already swept the stakes.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]
3.To brush against or over; to rub lightly along. [1913 Webster]
Their long descending train, With rubies edged and sapphires, swept the plain.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]
4.To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion. [1913 Webster]
And like a peacock sweep along his tail.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
5.To strike with a long stroke. [1913 Webster]
Wake into voice each silent string, And sweep the sounding lyre.— Pope.[1913 Webster]
6.(Naut.) To draw or drag something over; as, to sweep the bottom of a river with a net. [1913 Webster]
7.To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation; as, to sweep the heavens with a telescope. [1913 Webster]
To sweep a mold or To sweep up a mold (Founding), to form the sand into a mold by a templet, instead of compressing it around the pattern. [1913 Webster]
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 of anything; to move in a stately manner; as, the wind sweeps across the plain; a woman sweeps through a drawing-room. [1913 Webster]
3.To pass over anything comprehensively; to range through with rapidity; as, his eye sweeps through space. [1913 Webster]