■ verb ( ~s , ~ing ; past and past participle swept )
1》 clean (an area) by brushing away dirt or litter.
↘move or remove by brushing.
↘move or push with great force.
↘( ~ someone/thing away/aside ) remove or abolish someone or something swiftly and suddenly.
2》 search or survey (an area) for something.
↘cover (an entire area) with a gun.
3》 move or traverse swiftly and smoothly.
↘affect (a place) swiftly and widely: violence swept the country.
↘extend continuously, especially in an arc or curve.
↘ Cricket hit to the leg side by bringing the bat across the body from a half-kneeling position.
4》 N. Amer. be victorious in (a series of games).
■ noun
1》 an act of ~ing.
↘a chimney ~.
2》 a long, swift, curving movement.
↘ Electronics the movement of a beam across the screen of a cathode ray tube.
3》 a long, typically curved stretch of road, river, etc.
4》 the range or scope of something.
5》 informal a ~stake.
6》 N. Amer. an instance of winning every event, award, or place in a contest.
7》 a long heavy oar.
8》 a sail of a windmill.
9》 a long pole mounted as a lever for raising buckets from a well.
Phrases
~ the board win every event or prize in a contest.
Origin
OE swāpan , of Gmc origin.