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sweepingmore about sweeping

sweeping

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  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]: 
 
  Sweeping  \Sweep"ing\,  a. 
  Cleaning  off  surfaces,  or  cleaning  away  dust,  dirt,  or 
  litter,  as  a  broom  does  moving  with  swiftness  and  force; 
  carrying  everything  before  it  including  in  its  scope  many 
  persons  or  things  as  a  sweeping  flood;  a  sweeping  majority; 
  a  sweeping  accusation.  --  {Sweep"ing*ly},  adv 
  -{Sweep"ing*ness},  n. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  sweeping 
  adj  1:  taking  in  or  moving  over  (or  as  if  over)  a  wide  area;  often 
  used  in  combination;  "a  sweeping  glance";  "a 
  wide-sweeping  view  of  the  river" 
  2:  moving  in  a  wide  curve;  "sweeping  strokes" 
  3:  ignoring  distinctions;  "indiscriminate  slaughter  of  a 
  population";  "sweeping  generalizations";  "wholesale 
  destruction"  [syn:  {wholesale}] 
  4:  having  broad  range  or  effect;  "had  extensive  press 
  coverage";  "far-reaching  changes  in  the  social  structure"; 
  "sweeping  reforms"  [syn:  {extensive},  {far-reaching}] 
  n  :  the  act  of  cleaning  with  a  broom




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