Swept

5 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Swept \Swept\,
     imp. & p. p. of {Sweep}.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  Sweep \Sweep\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Swept}; p. pr. & vb. n.
     {Sweeping}.] [OE. swepen; akin to AS. sw[=a]pan. See {Swoop},
     v. i.]
     1. 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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              I will sweep it with the besom of destruction.
                                                    --Isa. xiv.
                                                    23.
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     2. 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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies. --Isa.
                                                    xxviii. 17.
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              I have already swept the stakes.      --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Their long descending train,
              With rubies edged and sapphires, swept the plain.
                                                    --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence,
        to carry in a stately or proud fashion.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              And like a peacock sweep along his tail. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. To strike with a long stroke.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Wake into voice each silent string,
              And sweep the sounding lyre.          --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. (Naut.) To draw or drag something over; as, to sweep the
        bottom of a river with a net.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     7. To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an
        instrument of observation; as, to sweep the heavens with a
        telescope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {To sweep a mold} or {To sweep up a mold} (Founding), to form
        the sand into a mold by a templet, instead of compressing
        it around the pattern.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  sweep
       n 1: a wide scope; "the sweep of the plains" [syn: {expanse}]
       2: someone who cleans soot from chimneys [syn: {chimneysweeper},
           {chimneysweep}]
       3: winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge [syn: {slam}]
       4: a long oar used in an open boat [syn: {sweep oar}]
       5: (American football) an attempt to advance the ball by
          running around the end of the line [syn: {end run}]
       6: a movement in an arc; "a sweep of his arm"
       v 1: sweep across or over; "Her long skirt brushed the floor"; "A
            gasp swept cross the audience" [syn: {brush}]
       2: move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions; "The diva
          swept into the room"; "Shreds of paper sailed through the
          air"; "The searchlights swept across the sky" [syn: {sail}]
       3: sweep with a broom or as if with a broom; "Sweep the crumbs
          off the table"; "Sweep under the bed" [syn: {broom}]
       4: force into some kind of situation, condition, or course of
          action; "They were swept up by the events"; "don't drag me
          into this business" [syn: {embroil}, {tangle}, {sweep up},
           {drag}, {drag in}]
       5: to cover or extend over an area or time period; "Rivers
          traverse the valley floor", "The parking lot spans 3
          acres"; "The novel spans three centuries" [syn: {cross}, {traverse},
           {span}]
       6: clean by sweeping; "Please sweep the floor"
       7: win an overwhelming victory in or on; "Her new show dog
          swept all championships"
       8: cover the entire range of
       9: make a big sweeping gesture or movement [syn: {swing}, {swing
          out}]
       [also: {swept}]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  swept
       adj : possessing sweep; "the sleek swept wings of the plane" [ant:
              {unswept}]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  swept
       See {sweep}