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Entry 24 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Sweep

/swēp/ · IPA /swiːp/
01 v. t. 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;…
imp. & p. p. Swept; p. pr. & vb. n. Sweeping
  1. 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. 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. 3.
    To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.
    “Their long descending train, With rubies edged and sapphires, swept the plain.” — Dryden.
  4. 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. 5.
    To strike with a long stroke.
    “Wake into voice each silent string, And sweep the sounding lyre.” — Pope.
  6. 6.
    To draw or drag something over; as, to sweep the bottom of a river with a net.(Naut.)
  7. 7.
    To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation; as, to sweep the heavens with a telescope.
Phrases & compounds
To sweep a mold — to form the sand into a mold by a templet, instead of compressing it around the pattern.
02 v. i. To clean rooms, yards, etc., or to clear away dust, dirt, litter, etc., with a broom, brush, or the like.
  1. 1.
    To clean rooms, yards, etc., or to clear away dust, dirt, litter, etc., with a broom, brush, or the like.
  2. 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. 3.
    To pass over anything comprehensively; to range through with rapidity; as, his eye sweeps through space.
03 n. The act of sweeping.
  1. 1.
    The act of sweeping.
  2. 2.
    The compass or range of a stroke; as, a long sweep.
  3. 3.
    The compass of any turning body or of any motion; as, the sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye.
  4. 4.
    The compass of anything flowing or brushing; as, the flood carried away everything within its sweep.
  5. 5.
    Violent and general destruction; as, the sweep of an epidemic disease.
  6. 6.
    Direction and extent of any motion not rectlinear; as, the sweep of a compass.
  7. 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. 8.
    One who sweeps; a sweeper; specifically, a chimney sweeper.
  9. 9.
    A movable templet for making molds, in loam molding.(Founding)
  10. 10.
    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.(Naut.)
  11. 11.
    The almond furnace.(Refining) [Obs.]
  12. 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.
  13. 13.
    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.(Card Playing)
  14. 14.
    The sweeping of workshops where precious metals are worked, containing filings, etc.
Phrases & compounds
Sweep net — a net for drawing over a large compass.
Sweep of the tiller — a circular frame on which the tiller traverses.