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| sweep [ sweep ] |
verb (past and past participle swept [ swept ], present participle sweep·ing, 3rd person present singular sweeps) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb clean place with brush: to remove something such as dust, dirt, debris, or snow from the floor or ground with a brush, broom, or similar implement
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2. transitive verb move something with horizontal stroke: to move something with a long smooth stroke or a quick brushing stroke
  I swept the papers off the desk.
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3. transitive and intransitive verb brush against ground: to brush against a horizontal surface such as the floor or the ground
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4. intransitive verb move with speed and force: to move quickly, smoothly, and forcefully, often in a large body or group
The crowd swept across the bridge.
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5. intransitive verb move with dignity: to move quickly and smoothly with a proud, majestic, or self-important air
swept angrily out of the room
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6. transitive and intransitive verb move across place: to move quickly and forcefully across an area
the gales that are sweeping the country
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7. transitive and intransitive verb spread through place: to pass or spread quickly through a place
The news swept through the city.
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8. transitive verb carry somebody or something along: to carry somebody or something quickly and forcefully in the same direction
swept along by the current
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9. transitive verb strongly influence somebody: to strongly influence or overwhelm somebody
(
often passive
)
We were swept along by their enthusiasm.
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10. transitive and intransitive verb win something overwhelmingly: to win something easily and overwhelmingly, or win all the games in a series or set of games for a championship
watched them sweep to victory
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11. intransitive verb stretch out in arc: to extend in a long smooth graceful curve or a wide circle
plains sweeping down to the coast
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12. transitive and intransitive verb extend over wide area: to be directed over a wide range or the entire area of something
Her eyes swept around the room.
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13. transitive and intransitive verb search place for something: to search a place for something, e.g. an area of water for mines or a room for hidden recording devices
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14. transitive verb clear chimney: to remove soot from the inside of a chimney with a long-handled brush
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noun (plural sweeps) |
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| Definition: |
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1. bout of cleaning with brush: a cleaning of something with a brush, broom, or similar implement
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2. brushing stroke: a quick brushing stroke
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3. long smooth movement: a long smooth curved movement
with a sweep of her arm
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4. long smooth curve: a long smooth graceful curve
the sweep of the coastline
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5. wide expanse: a wide expanse or extent
the sweep of the horizon
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6. curved range: the range over which something is directed, usually a wide arc or circle
stay out of the sweep of the searchlights
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7. broad range: the broad range or comprehensive nature of something
the sweep of history
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8. search: a thorough search of a place
a sweep of the neighborhood
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9. overwhelming victory: an overwhelming or absolute victory
their sweep to power
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10. windmill sail: a sail of a windmill
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11. pole for lifting bucket in well: a long pole used as a lever to raise or lower a bucket in a well
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12. occupations
Same as chimney sweep
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13. boating oar for propelling boat: a long oar that is used to propel small boats or sometimes act as a rudder
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14. electronics electron beam motion in cathode-ray tube: the steady movement of the electron beam across the fluorescent surface of a cathode ray tube. The motion may be straight, as with television screens, or circular, as with radar screens.
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plural noun sweeps |
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| Definition: |
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television ratings in particular period: a periodic survey of television ratings that is used to determine advertising rates, or the period when these ratings are done
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| [13th century. Probably < past tense of Old English swāpan "sweep" < Germanic, "to swing"] |
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| sweep·y adjective |
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make a clean sweep (of somebody or something)
1. to have a complete change by getting rid of everyone or everything unwanted or unnecessary
2. to win every competition, race, or contest in a series of competitions, races, or contests
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