sweep (sweeps plural & 3rd person present) (sweeping present participle) (swept past tense & past participle )
1 verb If you sweep an area of floor or ground, you push dirt or rubbish off it using a brush with a long handle.
The owner of the store was sweeping his floor when I walked in... V n
She was in the kitchen sweeping crumbs into a dust pan... V n prep/adv
Norma picked up the broom and began sweeping. V, Also V n with adv
2 verb If you sweep things off something, you push them off with a quick smooth movement of your arm.
With a gesture of frustration, she swept the cards from the table... V n prep/adv
`Thanks friend,' he said, while sweeping the money into his pocket. V n prep/adv
3 verb If someone with long hair sweeps their hair into a particular style, they put it into that style.
...stylish ways of sweeping your hair off your face... V n prep/adv
Her long, fine hair was swept back in a ponytail. V-ed
4 verb If your arm or hand sweeps in a particular direction, or if you sweep it there, it moves quickly and smoothly in that direction.
His arm swept around the room... V prep/adv
Daniels swept his arm over his friend's shoulder. V n prep/adv
...the long sweeping arm movements of a violinist. V-ing
Sweep is also a noun., n-count
With one sweep of her hand she threw back the sheets.
5 verb If wind, a stormy sea, or another strong force sweeps someone or something along, it moves them quickly along.
...landslides that buried homes and swept cars into the sea... V n prep/adv
Suddenly, she was swept along by the crowd. V n prep/adv
6 verb If you are swept somewhere, you are taken there very quickly.
The visitors were swept past various monuments... be V-ed prep/adv
A limousine swept her along the busy freeway to the airport. V n prep/adv
7 verb If something sweeps from one place to another, it moves there extremely quickly.
WRITTEN An icy wind swept through the streets... V prep/adv
The car swept past the gate house. V prep/adv
8 verb If events, ideas, or beliefs sweep through a place, they spread quickly through it.
A flu epidemic is sweeping through Moscow. V through/across n
...the wave of patriotism sweeping the country. V n
9 verb If someone sweeps into a place, they walk into it in a proud, confident way, often when they are angry.
WRITTEN She swept into the conference room... V prep/adv
Scarlet with rage, she swept past her employer and stormed up the stairs... V prep/adv
The Chief turned and swept out. V prep/adv
10 verb If a person or group sweeps an election or sweepsto victory, they win the election easily.
...a man who's promised to make radical changes to benefit the poor has swept the election... V n
In both republics, centre-right parties swept to power. V to n
11 n-count If someone makes a sweepof a place, they search it, usually because they are looking for people who are hiding or for an illegal activity.
usu sing
Two of the soldiers swiftly began making a sweep of the premises...
12
→
sweeping
→
chimney sweep
13 If someone sweeps something bad or wrong under the carpet, or if they sweep it under the rug, they try to prevent people from hearing about it.
sweep sth under the carpet/sweep sth under the rug phrase V inflects
For a long time this problem has been swept under the carpet.
14 If you makea clean sweepof something such as a series of games or tournaments, you win them all.
a clean sweep phrase PHR n, usu v PHR
...the first club to make a clean sweep of all three trophies.
15 →
to sweep the board →
board sweep up phrasal verb If you sweep up rubbish or dirt, you push it together with a brush and then remove it. Get a broom and sweep up that glass will you?... V P n (not pron) He started working for a gallery sweeping up and making the tea. V P, Also V n P
chimney sweep (chimney sweeps plural ), chimney-sweep A chimney sweep is a person whose job is to clean the soot out of chimneys. n-count
