I. ˈswīp noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably alteration of sweep (II)
1. dialect chiefly Britain : a pole or bar used as a lever or swivel : swape: as
a. : sweep 1a
b. : a starting lever for a portable engine
2. : a strong sweeping blow or stroke (as with a bat or club or paw of an animal)
3. : a long drink : draft
4. : one who takes care of horses : groom
5. : a progression of two or more chords sung (as by a barbershop quartet) on a single syllable
6. : resource material (as clippings, tear sheets, brochures) from outside sources filed for use in advertising or fashion design
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: partly alteration of sweep (I) ; partly from swipe (I)
intransitive verb
1. : to cut, strike, or hit with a sweeping motion — often used with at
swipes away at the punching bag — Gertrude Samuels
2. : to drink a mug of liquor at one draft
transitive verb
1. : to give a swipe to : strike or wipe with a sweeping motion
an upper wing tore loose and swiped the cockpit going past — L.S.Jamieson
2. : snatch , pilfer
caught swiping watermelons from a farmer's patch
Synonyms: see steal
III. noun
: a sharp often critical remark
taking a few swipes at the phony model heroes — J.K.Fairbank
IV. transitive verb
: to slide (a card with a magnetic strip or bar code) through a slot in a reading device so that information stored on the strip can be processed (as in making a purchase)
• swipe noun