SWEEP (swept)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sweep mean? 

• SWEEP (noun)
  The noun SWEEP has 6 senses:

1. a wide scope

2. someone who cleans soot from chimneys

3. winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge

4. a long oar used in an open boat

5. (American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running around the end of the line

6. a movement in an arc

  Familiarity information: SWEEP used as a noun is common.

• SWEEP (verb)
  The verb SWEEP has 9 senses:

1. sweep across or over

2. move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions

3. sweep with a broom or as if with a broom

4. force into some kind of situation, condition, or course of action

5. to cover or extend over an area or time period

6. clean by sweeping

7. win an overwhelming victory in or on

8. cover the entire range of

9. make a big sweeping gesture or movement

  Familiarity information: SWEEP used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SWEEP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A wide scope

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

expanse; sweep

Context example:

the sweep of the plains

Hypernyms ("sweep" is a kind of...):

ambit; compass; orbit; range; reach; scope (an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control:)

Derivation:

sweep (to cover or extend over an area or time period)

sweep (cover the entire range of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Someone who cleans soot from chimneys

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

chimneysweep; chimneysweeper; sweep

Hypernyms ("sweep" is a kind of...):

cleaner (someone whose occupation is cleaning)

Derivation:

sweep (clean by sweeping)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

slam; sweep

Hypernyms ("sweep" is a kind of...):

triumph; victory (a successful ending of a struggle or contest)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sweep"):

grand slam (winning all of the tricks in a hand of bridge)

little slam; small slam (winning all but one of the tricks in a hand of bridge)

Holonyms ("sweep" is a part of...):

bridge (any of various card games based on whist for four players)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A long oar used in an open boat

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

sweep; sweep oar

Hypernyms ("sweep" is a kind of...):

oar (an implement used to propel or steer a boat)

Sense 5

Meaning:

(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running around the end of the line

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

end run; sweep

Hypernyms ("sweep" is a kind of...):

run; running; running game; running play ((American football) a play in which a player attempts to carry the ball through or past the opposing team)

Domain category:

American football; American football game (a game played by two teams of 11 players on a rectangular field 100 yards long; teams try to get possession of the ball and advance it across the opponents goal line in a series of (running or passing) plays)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A movement in an arc

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

a sweep of his arm

Hypernyms ("sweep" is a kind of...):

motility; motion; move; movement (a change of position that does not entail a change of location)

Derivation:

sweep (move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions)

sweep (sweep across or over)

sweep (make a big sweeping gesture or movement)

• SWEEP (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Sweep across or over

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

brush; sweep

Context example:

A gasp swept cross the audience

Hypernyms (to "sweep" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Verb group:

brush (touch lightly and briefly)

sail; sweep (move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

sweep (a movement in an arc)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

sail; sweep

Context example:

The searchlights swept across the sky

Hypernyms (to "sweep" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Verb group:

brush; sweep (sweep across or over)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "sweep"):

swan (sweep majestically)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Also:

sweep through (succeed at easily)

Derivation:

sweep (a movement in an arc)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Sweep with a broom or as if with a broom

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

broom; sweep

Context example:

Sweep under the bed

Hypernyms (to "sweep" is one way to...):

pass over; wipe (rub with a circular motion)

Verb group:

sweep (clean by sweeping)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

sweeper (a cleaning implement with revolving brushes that pick up dirt as the implement is pushed over a carpet)

sweeper (an employee who sweeps (floors or streets etc.))

sweeping (the act of cleaning with a broom)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Force into some kind of situation, condition, or course of action

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

drag; drag in; embroil; sweep; sweep up; tangle

Context example:

don't drag me into this business

Hypernyms (to "sweep" is one way to...):

involve (engage as a participant)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP

Sense 5

Meaning:

To cover or extend over an area or time period

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

cross; span; sweep; traverse

Context example:

The novel spans three centuries

Hypernyms (to "sweep" is one way to...):

continue; cover; extend (span an interval of distance, space or time)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

sweep (a wide scope)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Clean by sweeping

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

Please sweep the floor

Hypernyms (to "sweep" is one way to...):

clean; make clean (make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from)

Verb group:

broom; sweep (sweep with a broom or as if with a broom)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

sweep (someone who cleans soot from chimneys)

sweeping (the act of cleaning with a broom)

sweeper (an employee who sweeps (floors or streets etc.))

sweeper (a cleaning implement with revolving brushes that pick up dirt as the implement is pushed over a carpet)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Win an overwhelming victory in or on

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context example:

Her new show dog swept all championships

Hypernyms (to "sweep" is one way to...):

win (be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 8

Meaning:

Cover the entire range of

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "sweep" is one way to...):

continue; cover; extend (span an interval of distance, space or time)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "sweep"):

rake (sweep the length of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

sweep (a wide scope)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Make a big sweeping gesture or movement

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

sweep; swing; swing out

Hypernyms (to "sweep" is one way to...):

handle; manage; wield (handle effectively)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

sweep (a movement in an arc)

 Context examples 

Then the driver cracked his whip and called to his horses, and off they swept on their way to Bukovina.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

My fingers were torn loose, and I swept across to the side and over the side into the sea.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

His eyes embraced the dead and wounded in a sweeping glance.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

He rushed, as though attempting the old shoulder trick, but at the last instant swept low to the snow and in.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

No, they should think a little, and sweep mud in the street before they do this thing.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

All was changing utterly with a sudden sweep.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Once there we were safe, for those huge wings had no space for their sweep beneath the branches.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I took a wide sweep round, and there is no path within fifty yards.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This link between sugar and cancer has sweeping consequences.

(Scientists Reveal The Relationship Between Sugar, Cancer, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)