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sweep

25 senses · Free VividLex dictionary · Thesaurus

  1. 1. v. i. 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. Source: opted
  2. 2. v. i. 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. Source: opted
  3. 3. v. i. To brush against or over; to rub lightly along. Source: opted
  4. 4. v. i. To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion. Source: opted
  5. 5. v. i. To strike with a long stroke. Source: opted
  6. 6. v. i. To draw or drag something over; as, to sweep the bottom of a river with a net. Source: opted
  7. 7. v. i. To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation; as, to sweep the heavens with a telescope. Source: opted
  8. 8. v. i. To clean rooms, yards, etc., or to clear away dust, dirt, litter, etc., with a broom, brush, or the like. Source: opted
  9. 9. v. i. To brush swiftly over the surface of anything; to pass with switness and force, as if brushing the surface of anything; to move in a stately manner; as, the wind sweeps across the plain; a woman sweeps through a drawing-room. Source: opted
  10. 10. v. i. To pass over anything comprehensively; to range through with rapidity; as, his eye sweeps through space. Source: opted
  11. 11. n. The act of sweeping. Source: opted
  12. 12. n. The compass or range of a stroke; as, a long sweep. Source: opted
  13. 13. n. The compass of any turning body or of any motion; as, the sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye. Source: opted
  14. 14. n. The compass of anything flowing or brushing; as, the flood carried away everything within its sweep. Source: opted
  15. 15. n. Violent and general destruction; as, the sweep of an epidemic disease. Source: opted
  16. 16. n. Direction and extent of any motion not rectlinear; as, the sweep of a compass. Source: opted
  17. 17. n. Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, or the like, away from a rectlinear line. Source: opted
  18. 18. n. One who sweeps; a sweeper; specifically, a chimney sweeper. Source: opted
  19. 19. n. A movable templet for making molds, in loam molding. Source: opted
  20. 20. n. The mold of a ship when she begins to curve in at the rungheads; any part of a ship shaped in a segment of a circle. Source: opted
  21. 21. n. A large oar used in small vessels, partly to propel them and partly to steer them. Source: opted
  22. 22. n. The almond furnace. Source: opted
  23. 23. n. A long pole, or piece of timber, moved on a horizontal fulcrum fixed to a tall post and used to raise and lower a bucket in a well for drawing water. Source: opted
  24. 24. n. In the game of casino, a pairing or combining of all the cards on the board, and so removing them all; in whist, the winning of all the tricks (thirteen) in a hand; a slam. Source: opted
  25. 25. n. The sweeping of workshops where precious metals are worked, containing filings, etc. Source: opted

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