swathe 1 /sweɪð $ swɑːð, swɒːð, sweɪð/ BrE AmE ( also swath /swɒθ $ swɑːθ/) noun [countable]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: swæth 'footstep, track' ]
1 . a long thin area of something, especially land
swathe of
The bomb had left a swathe of the town centre in ruins.
A swathe of sunlight lay across the floor.
2 . a long thin area of grass or plants that has been cut down:
We cut a swathe through the dense undergrowth.
3 . cut a swathe through something to destroy a large amount or part of something