I. ˈswēpiŋ, -pēŋ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English sweping, from gerund of swepen to sweep
1. : the act or action of one that sweeps
gave the room a good sweeping
2. sweepings plural : things collected by sweeping : refuse , rubbish
contaminated by sweepings, fly, and trash — M.R.Harden
II. adjective
Etymology: from present participle of sweep (I)
1.
a. : moving or extending in a wide curve or over a wide area
threw the end of the cigar, with a large sweeping gesture, into the fire — Arnold Bennett
has many old white houses and a sweeping view of the river valley — American Guide Series: New Hampshire
b. : having a curving line or form
the robe lies smoothly on the upper part of the body, and falls into sweeping folds below — O. Elfrida Saunders
2.
a. : on a large scale : wide-ranging : extensive
voted sweeping election reforms — Andrew Morsund
the expense … had made sweeping economies necessary — T.B.Costain
won a sweeping victory
b. : indiscriminate , wholesale
this condemnation of an entire age sounds even more sweeping than the indictment of a nation — William Anderson
sweeping charges
sweeping generalizations
• sweep·ing·ly adverb
• sweep·ing·ness noun -es