(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
If police or soldiers ~ on a place, they go there suddenly and quickly, usually in order to arrest someone or to attack the place. (JOURNALISM)
The terror ended when armed police ~ed on the car...
The drugs squad ~ed and discovered 240 kilograms of cannabis.
VERB: V on n, V
•
Swoop is also a noun.
Police held 10 suspected illegal immigrants after a ~ on a German lorry.
N-COUNT
2.
When a bird or aeroplane ~s, it suddenly moves downwards through the air in a smooth curving movement.
More than 20 helicopters began ~ing in low over the ocean...
The hawk ~ed and soared away carrying something.
VERB: V adv/prep, V
3.
If something is done in one fell ~ or at one fell ~, it is done on a single occasion or by a single action.
In one fell ~ the bank wiped away the tentative benefits of this policy.
PHRASE: PHR with cl