sweep Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a wide scope
    expanse.
    • the sweep of the plains
  2. noun someone who cleans soot from chimneys
    chimneysweep; chimneysweeper.
  3. noun winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge
    slam.
  4. noun a long oar used in an open boat
    sweep oar.
  5. noun (American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running around the end of the line
    end run.
  6. noun a movement in an arc
    • a sweep of his arm
  7. verb sweep across or over
    brush.
    • Her long skirt brushed the floor
    • A gasp swept cross the audience
  8. verb move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions
    sail.
    • The diva swept into the room
    • Shreds of paper sailed through the air
    • The searchlights swept across the sky
  9. verb sweep with a broom or as if with a broom
    broom.
    • Sweep the crumbs off the table
    • Sweep under the bed
  10. verb force into some kind of situation, condition, or course of action
    embroil; drag; drag in; sweep up; tangle.
    • They were swept up by the events
    • don't drag me into this business
  11. verb to cover or extend over an area or time period
    traverse; span; cross.
    • Rivers traverse the valley floor", "The parking lot spans 3 acres
    • The novel spans three centuries
  12. verb clean by sweeping
    • Please sweep the floor
  13. verb win an overwhelming victory in or on
    • Her new show dog swept all championships
  14. verb cover the entire range of
  15. verb make a big sweeping gesture or movement
    swing out; swing.

WordNet

Sweep transitive verb
Etymology
OE. swepen; akin to AS. swapan. See Swoop, v. i.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Swept ; present participle & verbal noun Sweeping
Definitions
  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.
    I will sweep it with the besom of destruction. Isa. xiv. 23.
  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.
    The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies. Isa. xxviii. 17.
    I have already swept the stakes. Dryden.
  3. To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.
    Their long descending train, With rubies edged and sapphires, swept the plain. Dryden.
  4. To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion.
    And like a peacock sweep along his tail. Shak.
  5. To strike with a long stroke.
    Wake into voice each silent string, And sweep the sounding lyre. Pope.
  6. (Naut.) To draw or drag something over; as, to sweep the bottom of a river with a net.
  7. To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation; as, to sweep the heavens with a telescope.
Sweep intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To clean rooms, yards, etc., or to clear away dust, dirt, litter, etc., with a broom, brush, or the like.
  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.
  3. To pass over anything comprehensively; to range through with rapidity; as, his eye sweeps through space.
Sweep noun
Definitions
  1. The act of sweeping.
  2. The compass or range of a stroke; as, a long sweep.
  3. The compass of any turning body or of any motion; as, the sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye.
  4. The compass of anything flowing or brushing; as, the flood carried away everything within its sweep.
  5. Violent and general destruction; as, the sweep of an epidemic disease.
  6. Direction and extent of any motion not rectlinear; as, the sweep of a compass.
  7. Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, or the like, away from a rectlinear line.
    The road which makes a small sweep. Sir W. Scott.
  8. One who sweeps; a sweeper; specifically, a chimney sweeper.
  9. (Founding) A movable templet for making molds, in loam molding.
  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.
  11. (Refining) The almond furnace. Obs.
  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.
  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.
  14. pl. The sweeping of workshops where precious metals are worked, containing filings, etc.

Webster 1913