/swoohp/ , v.i.
1. to sweep through the air, as a bird or a bat, esp. down upon prey.
2. to come down upon something in a sudden, swift attack (often fol. by down and on or upon ): The army swooped down on the town.
v.t.
3. to take, lift, scoop up, or remove with or as with one sweeping motion (often fol. by up, away, or off ): He swooped her up in his arms.
n.
4. an act or instance of swooping; a sudden, swift descent.
5. at or in one fell swoop , all at once or all together, as if by one blow: The quake flattened the houses at one fell swoop.
[ 1535-45; var. (with close o ) of ME swopen, OE swapan to SWEEP 1 ; c. G schweifen ]
Syn. 4. dive, plunge, sweep, drop.