swept

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• enPR: swĕpt
• (Received Pronunciation, General American, Canada, Scotland) IPA^(key): /swɛpt/

  • Audio (UK):

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  • Audio (US):

    (file)

• (Australia, New Zealand) IPA^(key): /swept/
• Rhymes: -ɛpt
• Hyphenation: swept

Adjective

swept (not comparable)

1. (military, of a body of water or part thereof) Cleared of mines (explosive devices).
   • 2019 January 9, Drachinifel, 32:48 from the start, in The Channel Dash / Operation Cerberus - How to win through refuge in audacity‎^[1], archived from the original on 24 July 2022:

     Having survived the seemingly-random attacks through the day, and now under the cover of night, the Germans seem to have a clear run to safety. However, back when the route became clear thanks to the Enigma intercepts, Bomber Command had laid more mines in the swept channel. And now, along comes Gneisenau!

Verb

swept

1. simple past and past participle of sweep

Derived terms

• backswept
• clear-swept
• inswept
• rainswept
• seaswept
• snowswept
• storm-swept
• sunswept
• swept-back, sweptback
• swept path
• swept wing, swept-wing, sweptwing
• unswept
• upswept
• windswept