Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Sweep
Sweep
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Swept
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Sweeping
.] 1.
To pass a broom across (a surface) so as to remove loose dirt, dust, etc.; to brush, or rub over, with a broom for the purpose of cleaning;
as, to
. Used also figuratively. sweep
a floor, the street, or a chimneyI will
sweep
it with the besom of destruction. Isa. xiv. 23.
2.
To drive or carry along or off with a broom or a brush, or as if with a broom; to remove by, or as if by, brushing;
as, to
sweep
dirt from a floor; the wind sweeps
the snow from the hills; a freshet sweeps
away a dam, timber, or rubbish; a pestilence sweeps
off multitudes.The hail shall
sweep
away the refuge of lies. Isa. xxviii. 17.
I have already
swept
the stakes. Dryden.
3.
To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.
Their long descending train,
With rubies edged and sapphires,
With rubies edged and sapphires,
swept
the plain. Dryden.
4.
To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion.
And like a peacock
sweep
along his tail. Shakespeare
5.
To strike with a long stroke.
Wake into voice each silent string,
And
And
sweep
the sounding lyre. Pope.
6.
(Naut.)
To draw or drag something over;
as, to
. sweep
the bottom of a river with a net7.
To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation;
as, to
. sweep
the heavens with a telescopeTo sweep a mold
or
To sweep up a mold
(Founding)
, to form the sand into a mold by a templet, instead of compressing it around the pattern.
Sweep
,Verb.
I.
1.
To clean rooms, yards, etc., or to clear away dust, dirt, litter, etc., with a broom, brush, or the like.
2.
To brush swiftly over the surface of anything; to pass with switness and force, as if brushing the surface of anything; to move in a stately manner;
as, the wind
sweeps
across the plain; a woman sweeps
through a drawing-room.3.
To pass over anything comprehensively; to range through with rapidity;
as, his eye
. sweeps
through spaceSweep
,Noun.
1.
The act of sweeping.
2.
The compass or range of a stroke;
as, a long
. sweep
3.
The compass of any turning body or of any motion;
as, the
. sweep
of a door; the sweep
of the eye4.
The compass of anything flowing or brushing;
as, the flood carried away everything within its
. sweep
5.
Violent and general destruction;
as, the
. sweep
of an epidemic disease6.
Direction and extent of any motion not rectlinear;
as, the
. sweep
of a compass7.
Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, or the like, away from a rectlinear line.
The road which makes a small
sweep
. Sir W. Scott.
8.
One who sweeps; a sweeper; specifically, a chimney sweeper.
9.
(Founding)
A movable templet for making molds, in loam molding.
10.
(Naut.)
(a)
The mold of a ship when she begins to curve in at the rungheads; any part of a ship shaped in a segment of a circle.
(b)
A large oar used in small vessels, partly to propel them and partly to steer them.
11.
(Refining)
The almond furnace.
[Obs.]
12.
A long pole, or piece of timber, moved on a horizontal fulcrum fixed to a tall post and used to raise and lower a bucket in a well for drawing water.
[Variously written
swape
, sweep
, swepe
, and swipe
.] 13.
(Card Playing)
In the game of casino, a pairing or combining of all the cards on the board, and so removing them all; in whist, the winning of all the tricks (thirteen) in a hand; a slam.
14.
pl.
The sweeping of workshops where precious metals are worked, containing filings, etc.
Sweep net
, a net for drawing over a large compass.
– Sweep of the tiller
(Naut.)
, a circular frame on which the tiller traverses.
Webster 1828 Edition
Sweep
SWEEP
,Verb.
T.
1.
To brush or rub over with a brush, broom or besom, for removing loose dirt; to clean by brushing; as, to sweep a chimney or a floor. When we say, to sweep a room, we mean, to sweep the floor of the room; and to sweep the house, is to sweep the floors of the house.2.
To carry with a long swinging or dragging motion; to carry with pomp. And like a peacock, sweep along his tail.
3.
To drive or carry along or off by a long brushing stroke or force, or by flowing on the earth. Thus the wind sweeps the snow from the tops of the hills; a river sweeps away a dam, timber or rubbish; a flood sweeps away a bridge or a house. Hence,4.
To drive, destroy or carry off many at a stroke, or with celerity and violence; as, a pestilence sweeps off multitudes in a few days. The conflagration swept away whole streets of houses. I have already swept the stakes.
5.
To rub over. Their long descending train,
With rubies edg'd and sapphires, swept the plain.
6.
To strike with a long stroke. Wake into voice each silent string,
And sweep the sounding lyre.
7.
To draw or drag over; as, to sweep the bottom of a river with a net, or with the bight of a rope, to hook an anchor.SWEEP
,Verb.
I.
1.
To pass over or brush along with celerity and force; as, the wind sweeps along the plain.2.
To pass with pomp; as, a person sweeps along with a trail. She sweeps it through the court with troops of ladies.
3.
To move with a long reach; as a sweeping stroke.SWEEP
,Noun.
1.
The compass of a stroke; as a long sweep.2.
The compass of any turning body or motion; as the sweep of a door.3.
The compass of any thing flowing or brushing; as, the flood carried away every thing within its sweep.4.
Violent and general destruction; as the sweep of an epidemic disease.5.
Direction of any motion not rectilinear; as the sweep of a compass.6.
The mold of a ship when she begins to compass in, at the rung heads; also, any part of a ship shaped by the segment of a circle; as a floor-sweep; a back-sweep, &c.7.
Among refiners of metals, the almost-furnace.8.
Among seamen, a large oar, used to assist the rudder in turning a ship in a calm, or to increase her velocity in a chase, &c.Sweep of the tiller, a circular frame on which the tiller traverses in large ships.