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sweeping

/ˈswiːpɪŋ/

verb

Meaning

  • To clean (a surface) by means of a stroking motion of a broom or brush.

    "to sweep a floor, the street, or a chimney"

  • To move through a (horizontal) arc or similar long stroke.

    "The offended countess swept out of the ballroom."

  • To search (a place) methodically.

  • To travel quickly.

  • To play a sweep shot.

  • To brush the ice in front of a moving stone, causing it to travel farther and to curl less.

  • To move something in a long sweeping motion, as a broom.

  • To win (a series) without drawing or losing any of the games in that series.

  • To defeat (a team) in a series without drawing or losing any of the games in that series.

  • To remove something abruptly and thoroughly.

    "She swept the peelings off the table onto the floor."

  • To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.

    "Their long descending train, / With rubies edg'd and sapphires, swept the plain."

  • To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion.

  • To strike with a long stroke.

  • To row with one oar to either the port or starboard side.

  • To draw or drag something over.

    "to sweep the bottom of a river with a net"

  • To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation.

    "to sweep the heavens with a telescope"

  • (including) to vacuum a carpet or rug

noun

Meaning

  • An instance of sweeping.

    "The sidewalk needed a sweeping every morning."

  • The activity of sweeping.

    "Sweeping took all morning."

adjective

Meaning

  • Wide, broad, affecting or touching upon many things

    "He loves making sweeping statements without the slightest evidence."

  • Completely overwhelming

    "He claimed a sweeping victory."

Synonyms

across-the-board