sweep

to drive or carry by some steady force, as of a wind or wave: The wind swept the snow into drifts.

to pass or draw (something) over a surface with a continuous stroke or movement: The painter swept a brush over his canvas.

to make (a path, opening, etc.) by clearing a space with or as if with a broom.

to clear (a surface, place, etc.) of something on or in it (often followed by of): to sweep a sea of enemy ships.

to pass over (a surface, region, etc.) with a steady, driving movement or unimpeded course, as winds, floods, etc.: sandstorms sweeping the plains.

to search (an area or building) thoroughly: Soldiers swept the town, looking for deserters.

to pass the gaze, eyes, etc., over (a region, area, etc.): His eyes swept the countryside.

to direct (the eyes, gaze, etc.) over a region, surface, or the like: He swept his eyes over the countryside.

to examine electronically, as to search for a hidden listening device.

to win a complete or overwhelming victory in (a contest): Johnson swept the presidential election of 1964.

to win (every game, round, hand, etc., of a series of contests): The Yankees swept the three-game series.

Music.

to move or pass in a swift but stately manner: Proudly, she swept from the room.

to move, pass, or extend in a continuous course, especially a wide curve or circuit: His glance swept around the room.

to conduct an underwater search by towing a drag under the surface of the water.

Aeronautics. (of an airfoil or its leading or trailing edge) to project from the fuselage at an angle rearward or forward of a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

an examination by electronic detection devices of a room or building to determine the presence of hidden listening devices.

a swinging or curving movement or stroke, as of the arm, a weapon, an oar, etc.

reach, range, or compass, as of something sweeping about: the sweep of a road about a marsh.

a continuous extent or stretch: a broad sweep of sand.

a curving, especially widely or gently curving, line, form, part, or mass.

matter removed or gathered by sweeping.

Also called well sweep . a leverlike device for raising or lowering a bucket in a well.

a large oar used in small vessels, sometimes to assist the rudder or to propel the craft.

an overwhelming victory in a contest.

a winning of all the games, rounds, hands, prizes, etc., in a contest by one contestant.

Football. end run (def. 1).

one of the sails of a windmill.

Agriculture. any of the detachable triangular blades on a cultivator.

Chiefly British. a person employed to clean by sweeping, especially a chimney sweeper.

Cards.

Physics. an irreversible process tending towards thermal equilibrium.

to move in a smooth or continuous manner, esp quickly or forcibly: cars swept along the road

to move in a proud or dignified fashion: she swept past

to spread or pass rapidly across, through, or along (a region, area, etc): the news swept through the town

(tr) to direct (the gaze, line of fire, etc) over; survey

(tr; foll by away or off) to overwhelm emotionally: she was swept away by his charm

(tr) to brush or lightly touch (a surface, etc): the dress swept along the ground

(tr often foll by away) to convey, clear, or abolish, esp with strong or continuous movements: the sea swept the sandcastle away; secondary modern schools were swept away

(intr) to extend gracefully or majestically, esp in a wide circle: the plains sweep down to the sea

to search (a body of water) for mines, etc, by dragging

to search (a room, area, etc) electronically to detect spying devices

(tr) to win overwhelmingly, esp in an election: Labour swept the country

cricket to play (a ball) with a sweep

(tr) to propel (a boat) with sweeps

sweep something under the carpet or sweep something under the rug to conceal (something, esp a problem) in the hope that it will be overlooked by others

sweep the board

the distance, arc, etc, through which something, such as a pendulum, moves

a wide expanse or scope: the sweep of the plains

any curving line or contour

cards

short for sweepstake

cricket a shot in which the ball is hit more or less square on the leg side from a half-kneeling position with the bat held nearly horizontal

any of the sails of a windmill

electronics a steady horizontal or circular movement of an electron beam across or around the fluorescent screen of a cathode-ray tube

agriculture

a curving driveway

mainly British See chimney sweep

another name for swipe (def. 6)

clean sweep