Sweep

v. t.	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. [imp. & p. p. Swept ; p. pr. & vb. n. Sweeping.] 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 a mold (Founding) to form the sand into a mold by a templet, instead of compressing it around the pattern.
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.
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.) 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.
	11.	(Refining) The almond furnace.
	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.
	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.	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.

Noun	1.	sweep - a wide scope; "the sweep of the plains" Synonyms: expanse
	2.	sweep - someone who cleans soot from chimneys Synonyms: chimneysweep, chimneysweeper
	3.	sweep - winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge Synonyms: slam
	4.	sweep - a long oar used in an open boat Synonyms: sweep oar
	5.	sweep - (American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running around the end of the line Synonyms: end run
	6.	sweep - a movement in an arc; "a sweep of his arm"
Verb	1.	sweep - sweep across or over; "Her long skirt brushed the floor"; "A gasp swept cross the audience" Synonyms: brush
	2.	sweep - move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions; "The diva swept into the room"; "Shreds of paper sailed through the air"; "The searchlights swept across the sky" Synonyms: sail
	3.	sweep - sweep with a broom or as if with a broom; "Sweep the crumbs off the table"; "Sweep under the bed" Synonyms: broom
	4.	sweep - force into some kind of situation, condition, or course of action; "They were swept up by the events"; "don't drag me into this business" Synonyms: drag in, embroil, sweep up, tangle, drag
	5.	sweep - to cover or extend over an area or time period; "Rivers traverse the valley floor", "The parking lot spans 3 acres"; "The novel spans three centuries" Synonyms: span, traverse, cross
	6.	sweep - clean by sweeping; "Please sweep the floor"
	7.	sweep - win an overwhelming victory in or on; "Her new show dog swept all championships"
	8.	sweep - cover the entire range of
	9.	sweep - make a big sweeping gesture or movement Synonyms: swing out, swing

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