swipe

[ swahyp ]

/ swaɪp /

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noun

a strong, sweeping blow, as with a cricket bat or golf club.

Informal. a swing of the arm in order to strike somebody; punch.

a sideswipe.

Informal. a critical or cutting remark.

a leverlike device for raising or lowering a weight, especially a bucket in a well; sweep.

an act or instance of swiping: You can debit your checking account with just a swipe of your card.

Also called rubber .Horse Racing. a person who rubs down horses in a stable; groom.

verb (used with object), swiped, swip·ing.

to strike with a sweeping blow.

Informal. to steal: He'll swipe anything that isn't nailed down.

to slide (a magnetic card) quickly through an electronic device that reads data.

Digital Technology. to move a finger or fingers, or a stylus, across an area on (a touchscreen) in order to execute a command: Put your finger on the arrow and swipe the screen to the right to unlock your phone.

verb (used without object), swiped, swip·ing.

to make a sweeping stroke.

to slide a magnetic card through an electronic device.

Digital Technology. to move the fingers across a touchscreen: Swipe to the right to close the article.

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Origin of swipe

1730–40; akin to sweep¹; cognate with German schweifen

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use swipe in a sentence

Northam, speaking during his presentation of a state budget to the General Assembly’s finance committees, closed his remarks with a swipe at those in the state who have resisted his virus-related restrictions.
Maryland judge temporarily blocks county’s ban on indoor dining|Michael Brice-Saddler, Ovetta Wiggins, Gregory S. Schneider|December 16, 2020|Washington Post
Trades can be placed with a quick swipe and may be heralded with a burst of virtual confetti.
Massachusetts regulators accuse Robinhood of exposing novices to ‘unnecessary trading risks’|matthewheimer|December 16, 2020|Fortune
The Republican senator's advertising has alternated between hard swipes against Democrat Jon Ossoff and straight-to-camera testimonials of what he thinks can be done with a businessman at the table in Washington.
The Trailer: The election's over, but the challenges aren't quite|David Weigel|November 29, 2020|Washington Post
You can “X” them out on the side to make them go away — but again, a swipe would be more satisfying.
macOS Big Sur is now available|Brian Heater|November 12, 2020|TechCrunch

While making the announcement, the acting secretary of Homeland Security took a swipe at a state law limiting the ways in which federal immigration authorities and local police can partner.
Morning Report: Where Unlawful Assembly Arrests Stand|Voice of San Diego|October 12, 2020|Voice of San Diego
These two speeches swiping at Cheney are unlikely to be the only colorful nuggets unearthed.
Rand Paul’s Michael Moore Moment|Michelle Cottle|April 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And while we're all swiping right (Tinder speak that translates to: we love him), so many people have become fooled.
How 'Billy on the Street' Star Billy Eichner Turned Screaming at Strangers Into Comedy Gold|Kevin Fallon|March 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And, of course, an untold number are swiping her Approved Card wherever they go.
Can Suze Orman Save America?|Adam Auriemma|November 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It was simply a matter of entering information into websites, swiping cards, and gaming the system.
How to Commit a $200 Million Scam: Inside the Year’s Most Shocking Credit Card Fraud|Daniel Gross|February 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And on HBO Jason Patric, a Lost Boy no more, appearing as a line-swiping actor on Entourage.
A Quick and Dirty Rundown of What to Watch|Nicole Ankowski|November 2, 2008|DAILY BEAST
The beggars back there must have radioed to units already in the air, telling them about us swiping a plane.
Dave Dawson with the R.A.F|R. Sidney Bowen
Lifted into a second-hand bird cage, the kitten spat its indignation and fell to swiping at shadows with a silky paw.
Trading Jeff and his Dog|James Arthur Kjelgaard
There'll be need of a lot of dope after the game, for the arms that swing nearly out of joint swiping the air.
Fast Nine|Alan Douglas
He heard steps behind him just in time, and found a tall man rushing forward and swiping at the sound of him.
The Strand Magazine, Volume XXVII, Issue 160, April, 1904|Various
Swiping a shipment of odd animals and selling them to Yaco, that could be Bad News, in character.
Lion Loose|James H. Schmitz

British Dictionary definitions for swipe

swipe

/ (swaɪp) /

verb

(when intr, usually foll by at) informal to hit hard with a sweeping blow

(tr) slang to steal

(tr) to pass a machine-readable card, such as a credit card, debit card, etc, through a machine that electronically interprets the information encoded, usu. in a magnetic strip, on the card

noun

informal a hard blow

an unexpected criticism of someone or something while discussing another subject

Also called: sweep a type of lever for raising and lowering a weight, such as a bucket in a well

Word Origin for swipe

C19: perhaps related to sweep

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

swipe

Origin of swipe

Words related to swipe

How to use swipe in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for swipe

Word Origin for swipe