swoop Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (music) rapid sliding up or down the musical scale
    slide.
    • the violinist was indulgent with his swoops and slides
  2. noun a very rapid raid
  3. noun a swift descent through the air
  4. verb move down on as if in an attack
    pounce.
    • The raptor swooped down on its prey
    • The teacher swooped down upon the new students
  5. verb move with a sweep, or in a swooping arc
  6. verb seize or catch with a swooping motion
    swoop up.

WordNet

Swoop transitive verb
Etymology
OE. swopen, usually, to sweep, As. swapan to sweep, to rush; akin to G. schweifen to rove, to ramble, to curve, OHG. sweifan to whirl, Icel. sveipa to sweep; also to AS. swifan to move quickly. Cf. Sweep, Swift, a. & n., Swipe, Swivel.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Swooped ; present participle & verbal noun Swooping
Definitions
  1. To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing; as, a hawk swoops a chicken.
  2. To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep.
    And now at last you came to swoop it all. Dryden.
    The grazing ox which swoops it [the medicinal herb] in with the common grass. Glanvill.
Swoop intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To descend with closed wings from a height upon prey, as a hawk; to swoop.
  2. To pass with pomp; to sweep. Obs. Drayton.
Swoop noun
Definitions
  1. A falling on and seizing, as the prey of a rapacious bird; the act of swooping.
    The eagle fell, . . . and carried away a whole litter of cubs at a swoop. L'Estrange.

Webster 1913