swath

American  

[swoth, swawth] / swɒθ, swɔθ /

noun

1. the space covered by the stroke of a scythe or the cut of a mowing machine.

2. the piece or strip so cut.

3. a line or ridge of grass, grain, or the like, cut and thrown together by a scythe or mowing machine.

4. a strip, belt, or long and relatively narrow extent of anything.

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idioms

1. cut a swath, to make a pretentious display; attract notice.

   The new doctor cut a swath in the small community.

swath British  

/ sweɪð, swɔːθ /

noun

1. the width of one sweep of a scythe or of the blade of a mowing machine

2. the strip cut by either of these in one course

3. the quantity of cut grass, hay, or similar crop left in one course of such mowing

4. a long narrow strip or belt

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swath More Idioms  

1. see cut a wide swath.

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Etymology

Origin of swath

before 900; Middle English; Old English swæth footprint; cognate with German Shwade

Example Sentences

And here, each frame is a sumptuous feast of texture, light and color — like a swath of sweat-drenched tulle cast out onto the wind and into the fog.

From Salon

A major driver of the new AI-inspired alarm has been increased capacity for computers to code software—and the fear that those capabilities could extend to swaths of white-collar desk work.

From The Wall Street Journal

The takeaway for investors: These shifts could make the market less sensitive to the next swath of tariff threats.

From Barron's

Whatever its actual length, there is no doubting the war’s traumatic impact upon France, where swaths of countryside were depopulated for decades, or the grievous toll upon combatants and civilians alike.

From The Wall Street Journal

Last week was dominated by fears that artificial intelligence would make large swaths of the tech industry obsolete, leading investors to favor makers of physical goods.

From Barron's

Related Words

• fodder
• grass