/ swiːp; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
( swept , swept / swept; NAmE /)
WITH BRUSH OR HAND
1.
to clean a room, surface, etc. using a broom (= a type of brush on a long handle) :
[ vn ]
to sweep the floor
[ vn - adj ]
The showroom had been emptied and swept clean.
[also v ]
2.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to remove sth from a surface using a brush, your hand, etc. :
She swept the crumbs into the wastebasket.
He swept the leaves up into a pile.
MOVE QUICKLY / WITH FORCE
3.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to move or push sb/sth suddenly and with a lot of force :
The little boat was swept out to sea.
She let herself be swept along by the crowd.
4.
( of weather, fire, etc. ) to move suddenly and/or with force over an area or in a particular direction :
[ v + adv. / prep. ]
Rain swept in through the broken windows.
[ vn ]
Strong winds regularly sweep the islands.
OF A PERSON
5.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to move quickly and/or smoothly, especially in a way that impresses or is intended to impress other people :
Without another word she swept out of the room.
( figurative )
He swept into the lead with an almost perfect performance.
6.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to move sth, especially your hand or arm, quickly and smoothly in a particular direction :
He rushed to greet her, sweeping his arms wide.
OF FEELINGS
7.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to suddenly affect sb strongly :
A wave of tiredness swept over her.
Memories came sweeping back.
OF IDEAS / FASHIONS
8.
to spread quickly :
[ v + adv. / prep. ]
Rumours of his resignation swept through the company.
[ vn ]
the latest craze sweeping America
LOOK / MOVE OVER AREA
9.
to move over an area, especially in order to look for sth :
[ v + adv. / prep. ]
His eyes swept around the room.
[ vn ]
Searchlights swept the sky.
TOUCH SURFACE
10.
[ vn ] to move, or move sth, over a surface, touching it lightly :
Her dress swept the ground as she walked.
HAIR
11.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to brush, comb , etc. your hair in a particular direction :
Her hair was swept back from her face.
OF LANDSCAPE
12.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to form a long smooth curve :
The hotel gardens sweep down to the beach.
IN SPORT
13.
[ vn ] ( NAmE ) to win all the games in a series of games against another team or all the parts of a contest :
The Blue Jays have a chance to sweep the series.
New Jersey swept Detroit last season.
•
IDIOMS
- sweep the board
- sweep sb off their feet
- sweep (sb) to power
- sweep to victory
- sweep sth under the carpet
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- sweep sb along / away
- sweep sth aside
- sweep sth away
- sweep sth out
- sweep sb up
■ noun
WITH BRUSH
1.
[ C , usually sing. ] an act of cleaning a room, surface, etc. using a broom :
Give the room a good sweep.
CURVING MOVEMENT
2.
[ C ] a smooth curving movement :
He indicated the door with a sweep of his arm.
LANDSCAPE
3.
[ C , usually sing. ] a long, often curved, piece of road, river, coast, etc. :
the broad sweep of white cliffs around the bay
RANGE
4.
[ U ] the range of an idea, a piece of writing, etc. that considers many different things :
Her book covers the long sweep of the country's history.
MOVEMENT / SEARCH OVER AREA
5.
[ C ] a movement over an area, for example in order to search for sth or attack sth :
The rescue helicopter made another sweep over the bay.
CHIMNEY
6.
[ C ] = chimney sweep
GAMBLING
7.
[ C ] ( NAmE also sweeps ) ( informal ) = sweepstake
IN SPORT
8.
[ C ] ( NAmE ) a series of games that a team wins against another team; the fact of winning all the parts of a contest :
a World Series sweep
TELEVISION
9.
the sweeps [ pl. ] ( NAmE ) a time when television companies examine their programmes to find out which ones are the most popular, especially in order to calculate advertising rates
•
IDIOMS
see clean adjective
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English swāpan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to German schweifen sweep in a curve.