sweeping
verb
- 1
To clean (a surface) by means of a stroking motion of a broom or brush.
“to sweep a floor, the street, or a chimney”
- 2
To move through a (horizontal) arc or similar long stroke.
“The offended countess swept out of the ballroom.”
- 3
To search (a place) methodically.
- 4
To travel quickly.
- 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.
- 8
To win (a series) without drawing or losing any of the games in that series.
- 9
To defeat (a team) in a series without drawing or losing any of the games in that series.
- 10
To remove something abruptly and thoroughly.
“She swept the peelings off the table onto the floor.”
- 11
To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.
“Their long descending train, / With rubies edg'd and sapphires, swept the plain.”
- 12
To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion.
- 13
To strike with a long stroke.
- 14
To row with one oar to either the port or starboard side.
- 15
To draw or drag something over.
“to sweep the bottom of a river with a net”
- 16
To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation.
“to sweep the heavens with a telescope”
- 17
(including) to vacuum a carpet or rug
noun
- 1
An instance of sweeping.
“The sidewalk needed a sweeping every morning.”
- 2
The activity of sweeping.
“Sweeping took all morning.”
adjective
- 1
Wide, broad, affecting or touching upon many things
“He loves making sweeping statements without the slightest evidence.”
- 2
Completely overwhelming
“He claimed a sweeping victory.”
Synonyms
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