hoover
[hoo-ver]
- to clean with a vacuum cleaner.
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Origin of hoover
First recorded in 1925–30; after the trademark of a vacuum cleaner manufacturer
Hoover
[hoo-ver]
- Herbert (Clark),1874–1964, 31st president of the U.S. 1929–33.
- J(ohn) Edgar,1895–1972, U.S. government official: director of the FBI 1924–72.
- Lou Henry,1874–1944, U.S. First Lady 1929–33 (wife of Herbert Hoover).
- a town in N central Alabama.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for hoover
Contemporary Examples
Such was the corrosive paranoia of the time, fueled by McCarthy and abetted by Hoover.
Two years later, Kansas helped oust Curtis—and Hoover—by voting for Franklin Roosevelt and re-electing McGill.
Later, the White House passed from McKinley to Theodore Roosevelt to Taft, and then from Harding to Coolidge to Hoover.
Voters went against him even despite Democratic attempts to portray Hoover as a supporter of racial equality.
We have now passed the worst,” declared President Hoover, “and with continued unity of effort we shall rapidly recover.
Historical Examples
This brings us to Hoover's connection with the relief of Belgium.
Herbert HooverVernon Kellogg
Hoover had to make his headquarters in London at the Commission's central office.
Herbert HooverVernon Kellogg
But in both cases action was needed at once and in both cases Hoover got action.
Herbert HooverVernon Kellogg
Hoover had had in his Belgian relief work an experience with the heart of America.
Herbert HooverVernon Kellogg
But Hoover's original assurance to the growers covered these months.
Herbert HooverVernon Kellogg
Hoover1
- trademark a type of vacuum cleaner
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- to vacuum-clean (a carpet, furniture, etc)
- (tr often foll by up) to consume or dispose of (something) quickly and completelyhe hoovered up his grilled fish
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Hoover2
- Herbert (Clark). 1874–1964, US statesman; 31st president of the US (1929–33). He organized relief for Europe during and after World War I, but as president he lost favour after his failure to alleviate the effects of the Depression
- J (ohn) Edgar. 1895–1972, US lawyer: director of the FBI (1924–72). He used new scientific methods to combat crime, including the first fingerprint file
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for hoover
Hoover
proprietary name for a make of vacuum cleaner (patented 1927); sometimes used generally for "vacuum cleaner." As a verb, meaning "to vacuum," from 1926, in the company’s advertising.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper