Category:Sweep

Sweep, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swept; p. pr. & vb. n. Sweeping.] Etym: [oe. swepen; akin to as. swapan. 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. I will sweep it with the besom of destruction. Isa. xiv. 23.

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. The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies. Isa. xxviii. 17. I have already swept the stakes. Dryden.

3. To brush against or over; to rub lightly along. Their long descending train, with rubies edged and sapphires, swept The plain. Dryden.

4. To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to Carry in a stately or proud fashion. And like a peacock sweep along his tail. Shak.

5. To strike with a long stroke. Wake into voice each silent string, and sweep the sounding lyre. Pope.

6. (naut.)

Defn: to draw or drag something over; as, to sweep the bottom of a River with a net.

7. To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of Observation; as, to sweep the heavens with a telescope. To sweep, or Sweep up, a mold (founding), to form the sand into a mold by a Templet, instead of compressing it around the pattern.

Sweep Sweep, v. i.

1. To clean rooms, yards, etc., or to clear away dust, dirt, litter, Etc., with a broom, brush, or the like.

2. 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.

3. To pass over anything comprehensively; to range through with Rapidity; as, his eye sweeps through space.

Sweep Sweep, n.

1. The act of sweeping.

2. The compass or range of a stroke; as, a long sweep.

3. The compass of any turning body or of any motion; as, the sweep of A door; the sweep of the eye.

4. The compass of anything flowing or brushing; as, the flood carried Away everything within its sweep.

5. Violent and general destruction; as, the sweep of an epidemic Disease.

6. Direction and extent of any motion not rectlinear; as, the sweep Of a compass.

7. Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, or the like, Away from a rectlinear line. The road which makes a small sweep. Sir w. Scott.

8. One who sweeps; a sweeper; specifically, a chimney sweeper.

9. (founding)

Defn: a movable templet for making molds, in loam molding.

10. (naut.) (a) 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. (b) a large oar used in small vessels, partly to propel them and Partly to steer them.

11. (refining)

Defn: the almond furnace. [obs.]

12. 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. [variously written swape, sweep, swepe, and Swipe.]

13. (card playing)

Defn: 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.

14. pl.

Defn: the sweeping of workshops where precious metals are worked, Containing filings, etc. Sweep net, a net for drawing over a large Compass. -- sweep of the tiller (naut.), a circular frame on which the tiller Traverses.