Sweep (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swept (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sweeping.] [OE. swepen; akin to AS. swapan. 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.
I will sweep it with the besom of destruction.
Isa. xiv. 23.
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.
The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies.
Isa. xxviii. 17.
I have already swept the stakes.
Dryden.
3.
To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.
Their long descending train,
With rubies edged and sapphires, swept the plain.
Dryden.
4.
To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion.
And like a peacock sweep along his tail.
Shak.
5.
To strike with a long stroke.
Wake into voice each silent string,
And sweep the sounding lyre.
Pope.
6. Naut.
To draw or drag something over; as, to sweep the bottom of a river with a net.
7.
To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation; as, to sweep the heavens with a telescope.
To sweep, ∨ sweep up, a mold Founding, to form the sand into a mold by a templet, instead of compressing it around the pattern.
© Webster 1913.
Sweep (?), v. i.
1.
To clean rooms, yards, etc., or to clear away dust, dirt, litter, etc., with a broom, brush, or the like.
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.
3.
To pass over anything comprehensively; to range through with rapidity; as, his eye sweeps through space.
© Webster 1913.
Sweep, n.
1.
The act of sweeping.
2.
The compass or range of a stroke; as, a long sweep.
3.
The compass of any turning body or of any motion; as, the sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye.
4.
The compass of anything flowing or brushing; as, the flood carried away everything within its sweep.
5.
Violent and general destruction; as, the sweep of an epidemic disease.
6.
Direction and extent of any motion not rectlinear; as, the sweep of a compass.
7.
Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, or the like, away from a rectlinear line.
The road which makes a small sweep.
Sir W. Scott.
8.
One who sweeps; a sweeper; specifically, a chimney sweeper.
9. Founding
A movable templet for making molds, in loam molding.
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.
11. Refining
The almond furnace.
[Obs.]
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.]
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.
14. pl.
The sweeping of workshops where precious metals are worked, containing filings, etc.
Sweep net, a net for drawing over a large compass. -- Sweep of the tiller Naut., a circular frame on which the tiller traverses.
© Webster 1913.