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sweep |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Sweep \Sweep\, v. i. 1. To clean rooms yards, etc., or to clear away dust, dirt, litter, etc., with a broom, brush, or the like 2. To brush swiftly over the surface of anything to pass with switness and force, as if brushing the surface of anything to move in a stately manner; as the wind sweeps across the plain; a woman sweeps through a drawing-room. 3. To pass over anything comprehensively; to range through with rapidity; as his eye sweeps through space. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Sweep \Sweep\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Swept}; p. pr & vb n. {Sweeping}.] [OE. swepen; akin to AS sw[=a]pan. See {Swoop}, v. i.] 1. To pass a broom across (a surface) so as to remove loose dirt, dust, etc.; to brush, or rub over with a broom for the purpose of cleaning; as to sweep a floor, the street, or a chimney. Used also figuratively. I will sweep it with the besom of destruction. --Isa. xiv. 23. 2. To drive or carry along or off with a broom or a brush, or as if with a broom; to remove by or as if by brushing; as to sweep dirt from a floor; the wind sweeps the snow from the hills; a freshet sweeps away a dam, timber, or rubbish; a pestilence sweeps off multitudes. The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies. --Isa. xxviii. 17. I have already swept the stakes. --Dryden. 3. To brush against or over to rub lightly along Their long descending train, With rubies edged and sapphires, swept the plain. --Dryden. 4. To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence to carry in a stately or proud fashion. And like a peacock sweep along his tail. --Shak. 5. To strike with a long stroke. Wake into voice each silent string, And sweep the sounding lyre. --Pope. 6. (Naut.) To draw or drag something over as to sweep the bottom of a river with a net. 7. To pass over or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation; as to sweep the heavens with a telescope. {To sweep, or sweep up}, {a mold} (Founding), to form the sand into a mold by a templet, instead of compressing it around the pattern. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Sweep \Sweep\, n. 1. The act of sweeping. 2. The compass or range of a stroke; as a long sweep. 3. The compass of any turning body or of any motion; as the sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye. 4. The compass of anything flowing or brushing; as the flood carried away everything within its sweep. 5. Violent and general destruction; as the sweep of an epidemic disease. 6. Direction and extent of any motion not rectlinear; as the sweep of a compass. 7. Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, or the like away from a rectlinear line The road which makes a small sweep. --Sir W. Scott. 8. One who sweeps; a sweeper; specifically, a chimney sweeper. 9. (Founding) A movable templet for making molds, in loam molding. 10. (Naut.) a The mold of a ship when she begins to curve in at the rungheads; any part of a ship shaped in a segment of a circle. b A large oar used in small vessels, partly to propel them and partly to steer them 11. (Refining) The almond furnace. [Obs.] 12. A long pole, or piece of timber, moved on a horizontal fulcrum fixed to a tall post and used to raise and lower a bucket in a well for drawing water. [Variously written {swape}, {sweep}, {swepe}, and {swipe}.] 13. (Card Playing) In the game of casino, a pairing or combining of all the cards on the board, and so removing them all in whist, the winning of all the tricks (thirteen) in a hand; a slam. 14. pl The sweeping of workshops where precious metals are worked containing filings, etc {Sweep net}, a net for drawing over a large compass. {Sweep of the tiller} (Naut.), a circular frame on which the tiller traverses. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: sweep n 1: a wide scope; "the sweep of the plains" [syn: {expanse}] 2: someone who cleans soot from chimneys [syn: {chimneysweeper}, {chimneysweep}] 3: winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge [syn: {slam}] 4: a long oar used in an open boat [syn: {sweep oar}] 5: (football) an attempt to advance the ball by running around the end of the line [syn: {end run}] 6: a movement in an arc; "a sweep of his arm" v 1: sweep across or over "Her long skirt brushed the floor"; "A gasp swept cross the audience" [syn: {brush}] 2: move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions; "The diva swept into the room"; "Shreds of paper sailed through the air"; "The searchlights swept across the sky" [syn: {sail}] 3: sweep with a broom or as if with a broom; "Sweep the crumbs off the table"; "Sweep under the bed" [syn: {broom}] 4: force into some kind of situation, condition, or course of action "They were swept up by the events"; "don't drag me into this business" [syn: {embroil}, {tangle}, {sweep up}, {drag}, {drag in}] 5: to cover a wide area; "Rivers traverse the valley floor", "The parking lot spans 3 acres" [syn: {cross}, {traverse}, {span}] 6: clean by sweeping; "Please sweep the floor" 7: win an overwhelming victory in or on: "Her new show dog swept all championships" 8: make a big sweeping gesture or movement [syn: {swing}, {swing out}]
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