ALL meanings of sweeping
sweep·ing
S s - verb with object sweeping to clear (a surface, place, etc.) of something on or in it (often followed by of): to sweep a sea of enemy ships. 1
- verb with object sweeping to pass over (a surface, region, etc.) with a steady, driving movement or unimpeded course, as winds, floods, etc.: sandstorms sweeping the plains. 1
- verb with object sweeping to search (an area or building) thoroughly: Soldiers swept the town, looking for deserters. 1
- verb with object sweeping to pass the gaze, eyes, etc., over (a region, area, etc.): His eyes swept the countryside. 1
- verb with object sweeping to direct (the eyes, gaze, etc.) over a region, surface, or the like: He swept his eyes over the countryside. 1
- verb with object sweeping to examine electronically, as to search for a hidden listening device. 1
- verb with object sweeping to win a complete or overwhelming victory in (a contest): Johnson swept the presidential election of 1964. 1
- verb with object sweeping to win (every game, round, hand, etc., of a series of contests): The Yankees swept the three-game series. 1
- verb with object sweeping Music. to pass the fingers or bow over (a musical instrument, its strings or keys, etc.), as in playing. to bring forth (music) thus. 1
- verb without object sweeping to sweep a floor, room, etc., with or as if with a broom: The new broom sweeps well. 1
- verb without object sweeping to move steadily and strongly or swiftly (usually followed by along, down, by, into, etc.). 1
- verb without object sweeping to move or pass in a swift but stately manner: Proudly, she swept from the room. 1
- verb without object sweeping to move, pass, or extend in a continuous course, especially a wide curve or circuit: His glance swept around the room. 1
- verb without object sweeping to conduct an underwater search by towing a drag under the surface of the water. 1
- verb without object sweeping Aeronautics. (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. 1
- noun sweeping using broom 1
- adjective sweeping affecting many 1
- adjective sweeping of wide range or scope. 1
- adjective sweeping moving or passing about over a wide area: a sweeping glance. 1
- adjective sweeping moving, driving, or passing steadily and forcibly on. 1
- adjective sweeping (of the outcome of a contest) decisive; overwhelming; complete: a sweeping victory. 1
- noun sweeping 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. 1
- noun sweeping the steady, driving motion or swift onward course of something moving with force or without interruption: the sweep of the wind and the waves. 1
- noun sweeping an examination by electronic detection devices of a room or building to determine the presence of hidden listening devices. 1
- noun sweeping a swinging or curving movement or stroke, as of the arm, a weapon, an oar, etc. 1
- noun sweeping reach, range, or compass, as of something sweeping about: the sweep of a road about a marsh. 1
- noun sweeping a continuous extent or stretch: a broad sweep of sand. 1
- noun sweeping a curving, especially widely or gently curving, line, form, part, or mass. 1
- noun sweeping matter removed or gathered by sweeping. 1
- noun sweeping Also called well sweep. a leverlike device for raising or lowering a bucket in a well. 1
- noun sweeping a large oar used in small vessels, sometimes to assist the rudder or to propel the craft. 1
- noun sweeping an overwhelming victory in a contest. 1
- noun sweeping a winning of all the games, rounds, hands, prizes, etc., in a contest by one contestant. 1
- noun sweeping Football. end run. 1
- noun sweeping one of the sails of a windmill. 1
- noun sweeping Agriculture. any of the detachable triangular blades on a cultivator. 1
- noun sweeping Chiefly British. a person employed to clean by sweeping, especially a chimney sweeper. 1
- noun sweeping Cards. Whist. the winning of all the tricks in a hand. Compare slam2 (def 1). Casino. a pairing or combining, and hence taking, of all the cards on the board. 1
- noun sweeping Physics. an irreversible process tending towards thermal equilibrium. 1
- verb with object sweeping to move or remove (dust, dirt, etc.) with or as if with a broom, brush, or the like. 1
- verb with object sweeping to clear or clean (a floor, room, chimney, etc.) of dirt, litter, or the like, by means of a broom or brush. 1
- verb with object sweeping to drive or carry by some steady force, as of a wind or wave: The wind swept the snow into drifts. 1
- verb with object sweeping to pass or draw (something) over a surface with a continuous stroke or movement: The painter swept a brush over his canvas. 1
- verb with object sweeping to make (a path, opening, etc.) by clearing a space with or as if with a broom. 1
- adjective sweeping A sweeping curve is a long wide curve. 0
- adjective sweeping If someone makes a sweeping statement or generalization, they make a statement which applies to all things of a particular kind, although they have not considered all the relevant facts carefully. 0
- adjective sweeping Sweeping changes are large and very important or significant. 0
- adjective sweeping comprehensive and wide-ranging 0
- adjective sweeping indiscriminate or without reservations 0
- adjective sweeping decisive or overwhelming 0