sweep

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Contents

English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Old English swāpan. Cognate with Early Mod. West Frisian swiepe (“whip, cleanse, sweep”), from Old Frisian swēpa, suepa (“sweep”). see also swoop.

Pronunciation [edit]

Verb [edit]

sweep (third-person singular simple present sweeps, present participle sweeping, simple past and past participle swept)

  1. (transitive) To clean (a surface) by means of a stroking motion of a broom or brush.
  2. (intransitive) To move through an (horizontal) arc or similar long stroke.
    The wind sweeps across the plain.
    The offended countess swept out of the ballroom.
    • 2005, Lesley Brown (translator), Sophist by Plato, 236d:
      [H]as the course of the argument so accustomed you to agreeing that you were swept by it into a ready assent?
  3. (transitive) To search (a place) methodically.
  4. (intransitive, figuratively) To travel quickly.
    • 2011 February 1, Phil McNulty, “Arsenal 2 - 1 Everton”, BBC:
      Everton took that disputed lead in a moment that caused anger to sweep around the Emirates.
  5. (cricket) To play a sweep shot.
  6. (curling) To brush the ice in front of a moving stone, causing it to travel farther and to curl less.
  7. (transitive, ergative) To move something in a particular motion, as a broom
  8. (sports, transitive) To win (a series) without drawing or losing any of the games in that series.
  9. (sports, transitive) To defeat (a team) in a series without drawing or losing any of the games in that series.

Derived terms [edit]

Terms derived from sweep (verb)

Translations [edit]

to clean using a broom or brush
to move through an arc or similar long stroke
to search methodically
to travel quickly
cricket: to play a sweep shot
curling: to brush the ice
to move something in a certain motion
sports: to win a series
sports: to defeat a team
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked

Noun [edit]

sweep (plural sweeps)

  1. The person who steers a dragon boat.
  2. A person who stands at the stern of a surf boat, steering with a steering oar and commanding the crew.
  3. A chimney sweep.
  4. A search (typically for bugs [electronic listening devices]).
  5. (cricket) A batsman's shot, played from a kneeling position with a swinging horizontal bat.
    Bradman attempted a sweep, but in fact top edged the ball to the wicket keeper
  6. A lottery, usually on the results of a sporting event, where players win if their randomly chosen team wins.
    Jim will win fifty dollars in the office sweep if Japan wins the World Cup.
  7. A flow of water parallel to shore caused by wave action at an ocean beach or at a point or headland.
  8. A single action of sweeping.

Derived terms [edit]

Terms derived from sweep (noun)

Translations [edit]

person who steers a dragon boat
person who steers a surf boat
chimney sweep — see chimney sweep
search for bugs (electronic listening devices)
type of shot in cricket
type of lottery
flow of water parallel to shore
single action of sweeping

References [edit]

Anagrams [edit]

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