v. 1 brush, whisk, clean, clear, tidy up This weekend I have to sweep out the basement 2 Often, sweep away. carry or take (away or off), destroy, wipe out, demolish, remove, wash (away); blow (away) The raging torrent swept away the bridge The wind swept the debris before it. 3 swoop, flounce, glide, sail, march, parade, skim, tear, dash, zoom Hattie swept into the room majestically 4 curve, arc, arch, bend, bow, circle, turn The long drive to the house sweeps round the pond and gardens
n. 5 pass, clearance, stroke; purge In one clean sweep the police rounded up all the suspects 6 curve, arc, arch, bow, bend, curvature, flexure Note the sweep of those main arches holding up the dome 7 range, extent, compass, reach, stretch, scope, swing, span The Hubbell space telescope has a farther sweep than any on earth