sweep



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Sweep \Sweep\, n.
   1. The act of sweeping.
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   2. The compass or range of a stroke; as, a long sweep.
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   3. The compass of any turning body or of any motion; as, the
      sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye.
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   4. The compass of anything flowing or brushing; as, the flood
      carried away everything within its sweep.
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   5. Violent and general destruction; as, the sweep of an
      epidemic disease.
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   6. Direction and extent of any motion not rectlinear; as, the
      sweep of a compass.
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   7. Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, or the
      like, away from a rectlinear line.
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            The road which makes a small sweep.   --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.
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   8. One who sweeps; a sweeper; specifically, a chimney
      sweeper.
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   9. (Founding) A movable templet for making molds, in loam
      molding.
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   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.
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   11. (Refining) The almond furnace. [Obs.]
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   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.]
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   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.
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   14. pl. The sweeping of workshops where precious metals are
       worked, containing filings, etc.
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   Sweep net, a net for drawing over a large compass.

   Sweep of the tiller (Naut.), a circular frame on which the
      tiller traverses.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Sweep \Sweep\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swept; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Sweeping.] [OE. swepen; akin to AS. sw[=a]pan. See Swoop,
   v. i.]
   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 sweep a floor, the street,
      or a chimney. Used also figuratively.
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            I will sweep it with the besom of destruction.
                                                  --Isa. xiv.
                                                  23.
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   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.
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            The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies. --Isa.
                                                  xxviii. 17.
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            I have already swept the stakes.      --Dryden.
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   3. To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.
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            Their long descending train,
            With rubies edged and sapphires, swept the plain.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   4. To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence,
      to carry in a stately or proud fashion.
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            And like a peacock sweep along his tail. --Shak.
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   5. To strike with a long stroke.
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            Wake into voice each silent string,
            And sweep the sounding lyre.          --Pope.
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   6. (Naut.) To draw or drag something over; as, to sweep the
      bottom of a river with a net.
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   7. To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an
      instrument of observation; as, to sweep the heavens with a
      telescope.
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   To 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.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Sweep \Sweep\, v. i.
   1. To clean rooms, yards, etc., or to clear away dust, dirt,
      litter, etc., with a broom, brush, or the like.
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   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.
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   3. To pass over anything comprehensively; to range through
      with rapidity; as, his eye sweeps through space.
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