sweep
♦ sweep /sw'iːp/ (sweeps sweeping swept)
1 [VERB] V n, V n prep/adv, V, also V n with adv
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...
She was in the kitchen sweeping crumbs into a dust pan...
Norma picked up the broom and began sweeping.
2 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V n prep/adv
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...
`Thanks friend,' he said, while sweeping the money into his pocket.
3 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V-ed
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...
Her long, fine hair was swept back in a ponytail.
4 [VERB] V prep/adv, V n prep/adv, V-ing
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...
Daniels swept his arm over his friend's shoulder.
...the long sweeping arm movements of a violinist.
[N-COUNT]
Sweep is also a noun.
With one sweep of her hand she threw back the sheets.
5 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V n prep/adv
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...
Suddenly, she was swept along by the crowd.
6 [VERB] be V-ed prep/adv, V n prep/adv
If you are swept somewhere, you are taken there very quickly.
The visitors were swept past various monuments...
A limousine swept her along the busy freeway to the airport.
7 [VERB] V prep/adv, V prep/adv
If something sweeps from one place to another, it moves there extremely quickly. (WRITTEN)
An icy wind swept through the streets...
The car swept past the gate house.
8 [VERB] V through/across n, V n
If events, ideas, or beliefs sweep through a place, they spread quickly through it.
A flu epidemic is sweeping through Moscow.
...the wave of patriotism sweeping the country.
9 [VERB] V prep/adv, V prep/adv, V prep/adv
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...
Scarlet with rage, she swept past her employer and stormed up the stairs...
The Chief turned and swept out.
10 [VERB] V n, V to n
If a person or group sweeps an election or sweeps to victory, they win the election easily.
...a man who's promised to make radical changes to benefit the poor has swept the election...
In both republics, centre-right parties swept to power.
11 [N-COUNT] usu sing
If someone makes a sweep of a place, they search it, usually because they are looking for people who are hiding or for an illegal activity.
Two of the soldiers swiftly began making a sweep of the premises...
12
see also sweeping, chimney sweep
13 [PHRASE] V inflects
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.
For a long time this problem has been swept under the carpet.
14 [PHRASE] PHR n, usu v PHR
If you make a clean sweep of something such as a series of games or tournaments, you win them all.
...the first club to make a clean sweep of all three trophies.
15
to sweep the board: see boardchim|ney sweep (chimney sweeps)
also chimney-sweep
[N-COUNT]
A chimney sweep is a person whose job is to clean the soot out of chimneys.sweep up
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V P, also V n P
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?...
He started working for a gallery sweeping up and making the tea.
1 [VERB] V n, V n prep/adv, V, also V n with adv
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...
She was in the kitchen sweeping crumbs into a dust pan...
Norma picked up the broom and began sweeping.
2 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V n prep/adv
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...
`Thanks friend,' he said, while sweeping the money into his pocket.
3 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V-ed
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...
Her long, fine hair was swept back in a ponytail.
4 [VERB] V prep/adv, V n prep/adv, V-ing
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...
Daniels swept his arm over his friend's shoulder.
...the long sweeping arm movements of a violinist.
[N-COUNT]
Sweep is also a noun.
With one sweep of her hand she threw back the sheets.
5 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V n prep/adv
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...
Suddenly, she was swept along by the crowd.
6 [VERB] be V-ed prep/adv, V n prep/adv
If you are swept somewhere, you are taken there very quickly.
The visitors were swept past various monuments...
A limousine swept her along the busy freeway to the airport.
7 [VERB] V prep/adv, V prep/adv
If something sweeps from one place to another, it moves there extremely quickly. (WRITTEN)
An icy wind swept through the streets...
The car swept past the gate house.
8 [VERB] V through/across n, V n
If events, ideas, or beliefs sweep through a place, they spread quickly through it.
A flu epidemic is sweeping through Moscow.
...the wave of patriotism sweeping the country.
9 [VERB] V prep/adv, V prep/adv, V prep/adv
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...
Scarlet with rage, she swept past her employer and stormed up the stairs...
The Chief turned and swept out.
10 [VERB] V n, V to n
If a person or group sweeps an election or sweeps to victory, they win the election easily.
...a man who's promised to make radical changes to benefit the poor has swept the election...
In both republics, centre-right parties swept to power.
11 [N-COUNT] usu sing
If someone makes a sweep of a place, they search it, usually because they are looking for people who are hiding or for an illegal activity.
Two of the soldiers swiftly began making a sweep of the premises...
12
see also sweeping, chimney sweep
13 [PHRASE] V inflects
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.
For a long time this problem has been swept under the carpet.
14 [PHRASE] PHR n, usu v PHR
If you make a clean sweep of something such as a series of games or tournaments, you win them all.
...the first club to make a clean sweep of all three trophies.
15
to sweep the board: see boardchim|ney sweep (chimney sweeps)
also chimney-sweep
[N-COUNT]
A chimney sweep is a person whose job is to clean the soot out of chimneys.sweep up
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V P, also V n P
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?...
He started working for a gallery sweeping up and making the tea.