Sweep (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

verb (used with object), swept, sweep·ing.

to move or remove (dust, dirt, etc.) with or as if with a broom, brush, or the like.
to clear or clean (a floor, room, chimney, etc.) of dirt, litter, or the like, by means of a broom or brush.
to drive or carry by some steady force, as of a wind or wave: The wind swept the snow into drifts.
to pass or draw (something) over a surface with a continuous stroke or movement: The painter swept a brush over his canvas.
to make (a path, opening, etc.) by clearing a space with or as if with a broom.
to clear (a surface, place, etc.) of something on or in it (often followed by of): to sweep a sea of enemy ships.
to pass over (a surface, region, etc.) with a steady, driving movement or unimpeded course, as winds, floods, etc.: sandstorms sweeping the plains.
to search (an area or building) thoroughly: Soldiers swept the town, looking for deserters.
to pass the gaze, eyes, etc., over (a region, area, etc.): His eyes swept the countryside.
to direct (the eyes, gaze, etc.) over a region, surface, or the like: He swept his eyes over the countryside.
to examine electronically, as to search for a hidden listening device.
to win a complete or overwhelming victory in (a contest): Johnson swept the presidential election of 1964.
to win (every game, round, hand, etc., of a series of contests): The Yankees swept the three-game series.
Music.

to pass the fingers or bow over (a musical instrument, its strings or keys, etc.), as in playing.
to bring forth (music) thus.

verb (used without object), swept, sweep·ing.

to sweep a floor, room, etc., with or as if with a broom: The new broom sweeps well.
to move steadily and strongly or swiftly (usually followed by along, down, by, into, etc.).
to move or pass in a swift but stately manner: Proudly, she swept from the room.
to move, pass, or extend in a continuous course, especially a wide curve or circuit: His glance swept around the room.
to conduct an underwater search by towing a drag under the surface of the water.
(of an airfoil or its leading or trailing edge) to project from the fuselage at an angle rearward or forward of a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

noun

the act of sweeping, especially a moving, removing, clearing, etc., by or as if by the use of a broom: to give the house a good sweep.
the steady, driving motion or swift onward course of something moving with force or without interruption: the sweep of the wind and the waves.
an examination by electronic detection devices of a room or building to determine the presence of hidden listening devices.
a swinging or curving movement or stroke, as of the arm, a weapon, an oar, etc.
reach, range, or compass, as of something sweeping about: the sweep of a road about a marsh.
a continuous extent or stretch: a broad sweep of sand.
a curving, especially widely or gently curving, line, form, part, or mass.
matter removed or gathered by sweeping.
a leverlike device for raising or lowering a bucket in a well.
a large oar used in small vessels, sometimes to assist the rudder or to propel the craft.
an overwhelming victory in a contest.
a winning of all the games, rounds, hands, prizes, etc., in a contest by one contestant.
end run (def. 1).
one of the sails of a windmill.
any of the detachable triangular blades on a cultivator.
a person employed to clean by sweeping, especially a chimney sweeper.
Cards.

noun Slang.

verb sweeps, sweeping or swept

to clean or clear (a space, chimney, etc) with a brush, broom, etc
to remove or collect (dirt, rubbish, etc) with a brush, broom, etc
to move in a smooth or continuous manner, esp quickly or forcibly
to move in a proud or dignified fashion
to spread or pass rapidly across, through, or along (a region, area, etc)
to direct (the gaze, line of fire, etc) over; survey
to overwhelm emotionally
to brush or lightly touch (a surface, etc)
to convey, clear, or abolish, esp with strong or continuous movements
to extend gracefully or majestically, esp in a wide circle
to search (a body of water) for mines, etc, by dragging
to search (a room, area, etc) electronically to detect spying devices
to win overwhelmingly, esp in an election
to play (a ball) with a sweep
to propel (a boat) with sweeps
to conceal (something, esp a problem) in the hope that it will be overlooked by others
sweep the board

noun

short for sweepstake
a shot in which the ball is hit more or less square on the leg side from a half-kneeling position with the bat held nearly horizontal

any of the sails of a windmill
a steady horizontal or circular movement of an electron beam across or around the fluorescent screen of a cathode-ray tube
agriculture

a rakelike attachment for the front of a motor vehicle for pushing hay into piles
a triangular blade on a cultivator used to cut through roots below the surface of the soil