sweep

Universal Words verb, noun verb (swept, swept ) with brush 1 to clean a room, surface, etc. using a BROOM (= a type of brush on a long handle): [VN] to sweep the floor / street / stairs * Chimneys should be swept regularly. * [VN-ADJ] The showroom had been emptied and swept clean. [also V] 2 [VN+adv./prep.] to remove sth from a surface using a brush, your hand, etc: She swept the crumbs into the wastebasket. * He swept the leaves up into a pile. * She swept the clothes onto the floor and invited him to sit down. move quickly / with force 3 [VN+adv./prep.] to move or push sb/sth suddenly and with a lot of force: The little boat was swept out to sea. * Their tent was swept away in the storm. * She let herself be swept along by the crowd. 4 (of weather, fire, etc.) to move suddenly and/or with force over an area or in a particular direction: [V, +adv./prep.] Rain swept in through the broken windows. * A fire swept through the store on Tuesday night. * [VN] Strong winds regularly sweep the islands. of a person 5 [V+adv./prep.] to move quickly and/or smoothly, especially in a way that impresses or is intended to impress other people: Without another word she swept out of the room. * (figurative) He swept into the lead with an almost perfect performance. 6 [VN+adv./prep.] to move sth, especially your hand or arm, quickly and smoothly in a particular direction: He rushed to greet her, sweeping his arms wide. of feelings 7 [V+adv./prep.] to suddenly affect sb strongly: A wave of tiredness swept over her. * Memories came sweeping back. of ideas / fashions 8 to spread quickly: [V, +adv./prep.] Rumours of his resignation swept through the company. * [VN] the latest craze sweeping America look / move over area 9 to move over an area, especially in order to look for sth: [V, +adv./prep.] His eyes swept around the room. * The car headlights swept across the front of the building. * [VN] Searchlights swept the sky. * She swept the crowd with her binoculars. touch surface 10 [VN] to move, or move sth, over a surface, touching it lightly: Her dress swept the ground as she walked. hair 11 [VN+adv./prep.] to brush, comb, etc. your hair in a particular direction: Her hair was swept back from her face. of landscape 12 [V+adv./prep.] to form a long smooth curve: The hotel gardens sweep down to the beach. IDIOMS sweep the board to win all the prizes, etc. in a competition sweep sb off their feet to make sb fall suddenly and deeply in love with you: She's waiting for some hero to come and sweep her off her feet. sweep (sb) to power to win an election by a large number of votes; to make sb win an election with a large number of votes sweep sth under the carpet (AmE also sweep sth under the rug) to try to stop people from finding out about sth wrong, illegal, embarrassing, etc. that has happened or that you have done: An earlier report, implicating the government, had been conveniently swept under the carpet. PHRASALVERBS sweep sb along / away [usuallypassive] to make sb very interested or involved in sth, especially in a way that makes them forget everything else: They were swept along by the force of their emotions. sweep sth<->aside to ignore sth completely: All their advice was swept aside. sweep sth<->away to get rid of sth completely: Any doubts had long since been swept away. sweep sth<->out to remove all the dust, dirt, etc. from a room or building using a brush sweep sb<->up to lift sb up with a sudden smooth movement: He swept her up into his arms. noun with brush 1 [C,usually sing.] an act of cleaning a room, surface, etc. using a BROOM: Give the room a good sweep. curving movement 2 [C] a smooth curving movement: He indicated the door with a sweep of his arm. landscape 3 [C,usually sing.] a long, often curved, piece of road, river, coast, etc: the broad sweep of white cliffs around the bay range 4 [U] the range of an idea, a piece of writing, etc. that considers many different things: Her book covers the long sweep of the country's history. movement / search over area 5 [C] a movement over an area, for example in order to search for sth or attack sth: The rescue helicopter made another sweep over the bay. chimney 6 [C] = CHIMNEYSWEEP IDIOMS see CLEANadj.