broom up

English

Verb

broom up (third-person singular simple present brooms up, present participle brooming up, simple past and past participle broomed up)

1. (transitive) To sweep up (a mess) thoroughly with a broom.

   The janitor broomed up the shards of glass.

2. (dated, of a length of wood) To strike (a length of wood) repeatedly such that the top of it becomes frayed and worn.

   Most of the fence-posts had been broomed up so badly they weren't usable.

3. (dated, of an infected tree) To show signs of a witch’s broom (mistletoe) infection; to have the witch's broom infection spread and worsen.

   I knew the yew tree was done for when the infection broomed up its branches.