Word: sweep Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English swepen, from Proto-West Germanic *swaipijan (unattested in Old English), from Proto-Germanic *swaipijaną. Cognate with Early Modern West Frisian swiepe (“whip, cleanse, sweep”), from Old Frisian swēpa, suepa (“sweep”). More distantly related to Old Norse sveipa (whence Swedish svepa). See also swoop. Pronunciation: /swiːp/, /swip/ 1. To clean (a surface) by means of a stroking motion of a broom or brush. Labels: transitive Example: to sweep a floor, the street, or a chimney Example: I will sweep it with the besom of destruction. 2. To move through a (horizontal) arc or similar long stroke. Labels: intransitive Example: The wind sweeps across the plain. Example: The offended countess swept out of the ballroom. 3. To search (a place) methodically. Labels: transitive 4. To travel quickly. Labels: figuratively, intransitive Example: Drifting thus, we made fast time down the bank through Cove Bay, and at 72 m.p.h. came sweeping round the curve past Girdleness light house, and so to the first sight of Aberdeen itself. Example: Everton took that disputed lead in a moment that caused anger to sweep around the Emirates. 5. To play a sweep shot. 6. To brush the ice in front of a moving stone, causing it to travel farther and to curl less. 7. To move something in a long sweeping motion, as a broom. Labels: ergative, transitive 8. To win (a series) without drawing or losing any of the games in that series. Labels: transitive 9. To defeat (a team) in a series without drawing or losing any of the games in that series. Labels: transitive 10. To clear (a body of water or part thereof) of mines. Example: The channel was swept twice before the battlefleet proceeded through it. 11. To remove something abruptly and thoroughly. Labels: transitive Example: She swept the peelings off the table onto the floor. Example: The wind sweeps the snow from the hills. 12. To brush against or over; to rub lightly along. Example: Their long descending train, / With rubies edg'd and sapphires, swept the plain. Example: Mind you, clothes were clothes in those days. […] Frills, ruffles, flounces, lace, complicated seams and gores: not only did they sweep the ground and have to be held up in one hand elegantly as you walked along, but they had little capes or coats or feather boas. 13. To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion. Example: And like a peacock sweep along his tail. 14. To strike with a long stroke. Example: Deſcend ye nine! deſcend and ſing; / The breathing inſtruments inſpire, / VVake into voice each ſilent ſtring, / And ſvveep the ſounding lyre! 15. To row with one oar to either the port or starboard side. 16. To draw or drag something over. Example: to sweep the bottom of a river with a net 17. To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation. Example: to sweep the heavens with a telescope Example: O5-8 does an impressive job of controlling himself, keeping his attention focused on Marion. Clay doesn't fare so well, and quickly sweeps the whole room, even checking behind his back. Making an ass of himself, essentially. He finds nothing. He looks baffled. 18. To vacuum a carpet or rug. Labels: Pennsylvania, Western