Definition of Sweep

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Definition of Sweep

Sweep

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.

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.

To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.

To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion.

To strike with a long stroke.

To draw or drag something over; as, to sweep the bottom of a river with a net.

To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation; as, to sweep the heavens with a telescope.

To clean rooms, yards, etc., or to clear away dust, dirt, litter, etc., with a broom, brush, or the like.

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.

To pass over anything comprehensively; to range through with rapidity; as, his eye sweeps through space.

The act of sweeping.

The compass or range of a stroke; as, a long sweep.

The compass of any turning body or of any motion; as, the sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye.

The compass of anything flowing or brushing; as, the flood carried away everything within its sweep.

Violent and general destruction; as, the sweep of an epidemic disease.

Direction and extent of any motion not rectlinear; as, the sweep of a compass.

Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, or the like, away from a rectlinear line.

One who sweeps; a sweeper; specifically, a chimney sweeper.

A movable templet for making molds, in loam molding.

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.

A large oar used in small vessels, partly to propel them and partly to steer them.

The almond furnace.

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.

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.

The sweeping of workshops where precious metals are worked, containing filings, etc.

Related Definitions:

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Sweep Quotations

Today is life-the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto.
Dale Carnegie

Roll on, deep and dark blue ocean, roll. Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain. Man marks the earth with ruin, but his control stops with the shore.
Lord Byron

Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!
Henry Ward Beecher

Throughout history, it took centuries for the habits of one culture to materially affect another. Now, that which becomes popular in one country can sweep through others within months.
Dee Hock

The repose of sleep refreshes only the body. It rarely sets the soul at rest. The repose of the night does not belong to us. It is not the possession of our being. Sleep opens within us an inn for phantoms. In the morning we must sweep out the shadows.
Gaston Bachelard

The organization and constant onward sweep of this movement exemplifies the resentment of the many toward the selfishness, greed and the neglect of the few.
John L. Lewis

Nature, with equal mind, Sees all her sons at play, Sees man control the wind, The wind sweep man away.
Matthew Arnold

I suspect there have been a number of conspiracies that never were described or leaked out. But I suspect none of the magnitude and sweep of Watergate.
Bob Woodward

The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.
Elia Kazan

Sweep Translations

sweep in Danish is feje
sweep in Dutch is oprijlaan, oprit
sweep in French is balayez, balayons, balayent, balayer, basculer
sweep in German is fegen, ausfegen
sweep in Italian is scopare, spazzare, ribaltabile
sweep in Portuguese is varredura
sweep in Spanish is escobar, barrer
sweep in Swedish is sopa, sotare, drag, svepa

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