sweep
to remove and/or take in a particular direction, especially in a fast and powerful way
(چیزی را با فشار و زور) از جا کندن، شستن و با خود بردن، نابود کردن
A large wave swept away half the sandcastle.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
sweep
verb (sweeps, sweeping, swept /, has swept)
1 to clean something by moving dirt or rubbish away with a brush:
I've swept the floor.
2 to push something along or away quickly and strongly:
The bridge was swept away by the floods.
sweep up, sweep something up to remove dirt or rubbish using a brush:
I swept up the broken glass.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
sweep
I. sweep1 W3 /swiːp/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle swept /swept/)
[Date: 1200-1300; Origin: Probably from sweop, the past tense of Old English swapan 'to sweep']
1. CLEAN SOMETHING [transitive] to clean the dust, dirt etc from the floor or ground, using a brush with a long handle SYN brush:
Bert swept the path in front of the house.
sweep something off/out/up etc
Will you sweep the leaves off the patio?
2. PUSH SOMETHING SOMEWHERE [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to move things from a surface with a brushing movement:
I swept the papers quickly into the drawer.
3. PUSH SOMEBODY/SOMETHING WITH FORCE [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to force someone or something to move in a particular direction:
The windsurfer was swept out to sea.
Jessie was swept along by the angry crowd.
4. GROUP MOVES [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a group of people or animals sweep somewhere, they quickly move there together
sweep through/along etc
The crowd swept through the gates of the stadium.
5. WIND/WAVES ETC [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] if winds, waves, fire etc sweep a place or sweep through, across etc a place, they move quickly and with a lot of force:
Thunderstorms swept the country.
sweep across/through etc
Ninety-mile per hour winds swept across the plains.
6. BECOME POPULAR [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] written if an idea, feeling, or activity sweeps a group of people or a place, it quickly becomes very popular or common
sweep the country/nation/state etc
a wave of nationalism sweeping the country
sweep across/through etc
the latest craze sweeping through the teenage population
7. FEELING [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a feeling sweeps over you, you are suddenly affected by it
sweep over
A feeling of isolation swept over me.
8. PERSON [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if someone sweeps somewhere, they move quickly and confidently, especially because they are impatient or like to seem important
sweep into/through etc
Eva swept into the meeting and demanded to know what was going on.
9. POLITICS [intransitive and transitive] to win an election easily and in an impressive way
sweep to power/victory
Nixon and Agnew swept to victory with 47 million votes.
Herrera was swept into office on the promise of major reforms.
10. SPORTS [transitive] American English to win all of the games in a series of games against a particular team:
Houston swept Orlando to become NBA champions.
11. sweep the board British English to win everything that can be won, especially very easily
12. FORM A CURVE [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to form a long curved shape
sweep down/along etc
The hills swept down to the sea.
13. LOOK [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to look quickly at all of something:
The general’s eyes swept the horizon.
sweep over/across/around etc
the beam from the lighthouse sweeping across the sea
14. sweep somebody off their feet to make someone feel suddenly and strongly attracted to you in a romantic way:
Jill’s been swept off her feet by an older man.
15. sweep/brush something under the carpet (also sweep something under the rug American English) to try to keep something a secret, especially something you have done wrong
16. HAIR [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to pull your hair back from your face
sweep something back/up
Kerry swept her hair back into a ponytail.
sweep somebody along phrasal verb
to ↑sweep someone ↑away
sweep something ↔ aside phrasal verb
to refuse to pay attention to something someone says:
Branson swept all the objections aside.
sweep somebody/something away phrasal verb
1. sweep something ↔ away to completely destroy something or make something disappear:
houses swept away by the floods
A sudden feeling of grief swept all my anger away.
2. sweep somebody away (also sweep somebody along) [usually passive] if a feeling or idea sweeps you away or along, you are so excited that you do not think clearly or you forget about other things:
We couldn’t help being swept away by Bette’s enthusiasm.
Nineteenth-century scientists were swept along on the tide of Darwin’s theories.
sweep up phrasal verb
1. to clean the dust, dirt etc from the floor or ground using a brush with a long handle:
The janitor was just sweeping up as I left the building.
sweep something ↔ up
Jan was sweeping up the bits of paper and broken glass.
2. sweep somebody ↔ up to pick someone up in one quick movement:
Harriet swept the child up in her arms and hugged her.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
sweep
sweep [sweep sweeps swept sweeping] verb, noun [swiːp] [swiːp]
verb (swept, swept [swept] ; [swept] )
WITH BRUSH OR HAND
1. transitive, intransitive to clean a room, surface, etc. using a broom (= a type of brush on a long handle)
• ~ (sth) to sweep the floor
• Chimneys should be swept regularly.
• ~ sth + adj. The showroom had been emptied and swept clean.
2. transitive ~ sth + 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. transitive ~ sb/sth + 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. intransitive, transitive (of weather, fire, etc.) to move suddenly and/or with force over an area or in a particular direction
• + adv./prep. Rain swept in through the broken windows.
• A fire swept through the store on Tuesday night.
• ~ sth Strong winds regularly sweep the islands.
OF A PERSON
5. intransitive + 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. transitive ~ sth + 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. intransitive + adv./prep. to suddenly affect sb strongly
• A wave of tiredness swept over her.
• Memories came sweeping back.
OF IDEAS/FASHIONS
8. intransitive, transitive to spread quickly
• + adv./prep. Rumours of his resignation swept through the company.
• ~ sth the latest craze sweeping America
LOOK/MOVE OVER AREA
9. intransitive, transitive to move over an area, especially in order to look for sth
• + adv./prep. His eyes swept around the room.
• The car headlights swept across the front of the building.
• ~ sth Searchlights swept the sky.
• She swept the crowd with her binoculars.
TOUCH SURFACE
10. transitive ~ sth to move, or move sth, over a surface, touching it lightly
• Her dress swept the ground as she walked.
HAIR
11. transitive ~ sth + adv./prep. to brush, comb, etc. your hair in a particular direction
• Her hair was swept back from her face.
OF LANDSCAPE
12. intransitive + adv./prep. to form a long smooth curve
• The hotel gardens sweep down to the beach.
IN SPORT
13. transitive ~ sth (NAmE) to win all the games in a series of games against another team or all the parts of a contest
• The Blue Jays have a chance to sweep the series.
• New Jersey swept Detroit last season.
Verb forms:
Word Origin:
Old English swāpan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to German schweifen ‘sweep in a curve’.
Example Bank:
• A pair of golden eagles swept across the sky.
• She swept a hand through her hair.
• The traveller swept a hand toward the endless expanse of water.
• Two police motorcycles swept through the village.
• Without another word, she swept out of the room.
• to sweep the floor/street/stairs
Idioms: sweep somebody off their feet ▪ sweep something under the carpet ▪ sweep the board ▪ sweep to power ▪ sweep to victory
Derived: sweep somebody away ▪ sweep somebody up ▪ sweep something aside ▪ sweep something away ▪ sweep something out
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
sweep / swiːp / verb [ T usually + adv/prep ] ( swept , swept ) (REMOVE)
B2 to remove and/or take in a particular direction, especially in a fast and powerful way:
A large wave swept away half the sandcastle.
She swept the pile of papers and books into her bag.
The boat was swept out to sea (= away from land) by the tide.
Government troops swept aside the rebel forces (= caused them to move away from the area in which they were) .
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
sweep
[swi͟ːp]
sweeps, sweeping, swept
1) VERB If you sweep an area of floor or ground, you push dirt or rubbish off it using a brush with a long handle.
[V n] The owner of the store was sweeping his floor when I walked in...
[V n prep/adv] She was in the kitchen sweeping crumbs into a dust pan...
Norma picked up the broom and began sweeping. [Also V n with adv]
2) VERB If you sweep things off something, you push them off with a quick smooth movement of your arm.
[V n prep/adv] I swept rainwater off the flat top of a gravestone...
[V n prep/adv] With a gesture of frustration, she swept the cards from the table...
[V n prep/adv] `Thanks friend,' he said, while sweeping the money into his pocket.
3) VERB If someone with long hair sweeps their hair into a particular style, they put it into that style.
[V n prep/adv] ...stylish ways of sweeping your hair off your face...
[V-ed] Her long, fine hair was swept back in a ponytail.
4) V-ERG If your arm or hand sweeps in a particular direction, or if you sweep it there, it moves quickly and smoothly in that direction.
[V prep/adv] His arm swept around the room...
[V n prep/adv] Daniels swept his arm over his friend's shoulder.
[V-ing] ...the long sweeping arm movements of a violinist.
N-COUNT
Sweep is also a noun. With one sweep of her hand she threw back the sheets.
5) VERB If wind, a stormy sea, or another strong force sweeps someone or something along, it moves them quickly along.
[V n prep/adv] ...landslides that buried homes and swept cars into the sea...
[V n prep/adv] Suddenly, she was swept along by the crowd.
6) VERB If you are swept somewhere, you are taken there very quickly.
[be V-ed prep/adv] The visitors were swept past various monuments...
[V n prep/adv] A limousine swept her along the busy freeway to the airport.
7) VERB If something sweeps from one place to another, it moves there extremely quickly. [WRITTEN]
[V prep/adv] An icy wind swept through the streets...
[V prep/adv] The car swept past the gate house.
8) VERB If events, ideas, or beliefs sweep through a place, they spread quickly through it.
[V through/across n] A flu epidemic is sweeping through Moscow.
[V n] ...the wave of patriotism sweeping the country.
9) VERB If someone sweeps into a place, they walk into it in a proud confident way, often when they are angry. [WRITTEN]
[V prep/adv] She swept into the conference room...
[V prep/adv] Scarlet with rage, she swept past her employer and stormed up the stairs...
[V prep/adv] The Chief turned and swept out.
10) VERB If a person or thing sweeps something away or aside, they remove it quickly and completely.
[V n with adv] The commission's conclusions sweep away a decade of denials and cover-ups...
[V n with adv] In times of war, governments often sweep human rights aside...
[V n prep] He swept the names from his mind.
11) VERB If lights or someone's eyes sweep an area, they move across the area from side to side. [mainly WRITTEN]
[V n] Helicopters with searchlights swept the park which was sealed off...
[V prep/adv] Her gaze sweeps rapidly around the room.
12) VERB If land or water sweeps somewhere, it stretches out in a long, wide, curved shape.
[V prep/adv] The land sweeps away from long areas of greenery.
[V prep/adv] ...the arc of countries that sweeps down from South Korea to Indonesia.
13) N-COUNT: with supp A sweep of land or water forms a long, wide, curved shape.
The ground fell away in a broad sweep down to the river.
...the great sweep of the bay.
14) VERB If a person or group sweeps an election or sweeps to victory, they win the election easily.
[V n] ...a man who's promised to make radical changes to benefit the poor has swept the election...
[V to n] In both republics, centre-right parties swept to power, defeating the communists.
[V n to n] ...voters nostalgic for the free-spending policies of the 1980s swept his Socialists back to power.
[V-ing] ...a sweeping victory.
15) N-COUNT: usu sing If someone makes a sweep of a place, they search it, usually because they are looking for people who are hiding or for an illegal activity.
Two of the soldiers swiftly began making a sweep of the premises...
There may be periodic police `sweeps' of crime in the area.
16) N-SING: with supp If you refer to the sweep of something, you are indicating that it includes a large number of different events, qualities, or opinions.
...the whole sweep of German social and political history.
17) → See also sweeping, chimney sweep
18) PHRASE: V inflects If someone sweeps something bad or wrong under the carpet, or if they sweep it under the rug, they try to prevent people from hearing about it.
For a long time this problem has been swept under the carpet.
19) PHRASE: PHR n, usu v PHR If you make a clean sweep of something such as a series of games or tournaments, you win them all.
...the first club to make a clean sweep of all three trophies.
20) PHRASE: V inflects If someone sweeps you off your feet, you fall in love with them very quickly because you find them very attractive or exciting.
I was swept off my feet. I had always dreamed of being an officer's wife.
21) to sweep the board → see board
Phrasal Verbs:
- sweep up
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1sweep /ˈswiːp/ verb sweeps; swept /ˈswɛpt/; sweep·ing
1 a always followed by an adverb or preposition [+ obj] : to remove (something, such as dust or dirt) from a surface with a broom or brush or with a quick movement of your hand, fingers, etc.
• He swept the dirt off the driveway.
• He swept the crumbs from the table.
b : to remove dust, dirt, etc., from (something) with a broom or brush
[+ obj]
• She swept the floor.
• I need to sweep the kitchen.
• Are you finished sweeping the porch?
[no obj]
• Have you swept yet?
- see also sweep out (below), sweep up (below)
2 always followed by an adverb or preposition
a [no obj] : to move or pass quickly, forcefully, or smoothly
• A storm swept across the plains.
• Fires swept through the forest.
- often used figuratively
• She swept to victory on a wave of popularity.
b [no obj] : to move or walk in a smooth, quick, and impressive way
• She proudly swept into the room.
• The limo swept up to the door.
c [+ obj] : to push or move (something) quickly or forcefully
• He swept the curtains aside.
• She swept the books off the desk.
d [+ obj] : to push, carry, or lift (someone or something) with great force
• The debris was swept [=carried] out to sea by the tide.
• She was swept toward the door by the crowd.
• He swept her into his arms.
- often used figuratively
• We were swept along/away by her enthusiasm.
• The party was swept into power in the last election.
3 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] of a feeling or emotion : to be felt suddenly
• Fear swept over/through her. [=she suddenly felt afraid]
• A feeling of relief swept over him.
4 always followed by an adverb or preposition [+ obj] : to move (your hand, arm, etc.) in a wide, curving motion
• He swept his arm across the table.
5 [+ obj] : to pass over (all of an area or place) in a continuous motion
• The teacher's gaze swept the classroom.
• A searchlight swept the area.
• Strong winds sweep the mountainside.
6 [+ obj] : to become very popular or common suddenly in (a particular place)
• It's the latest craze sweeping the nation.
7 [+ obj] : to win everything that can be won in (something, such as an election) in an easy or impressive way
• The opposition party swept the election.
8 [+ obj] US sports : to win all of the games in a series of games against another team
• They swept their rivals in a three-game series.
• They swept the series/doubleheader.
• They were swept in the play-offs last year.
9 always followed by an adverb or preposition [+ obj] : to brush or pull (your hair) away from your face
• She swept her hair up/back and clipped it in place.
10 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to form a long, smooth curve
• The property sweeps down to the water's edge.
sweep aside [phrasal verb] sweep (something) aside or sweep aside (something) : to treat (something) as not important : to ignore (something)
• He swept aside [=brushed aside] questions about his son's arrest.
• He swept aside [=dismissed] their objections, refusing to change his plans.
sweep away [phrasal verb] sweep (something) away or sweep away (something) : to destroy or remove (something) completely
• Floods swept away several houses.
• an ancient civilization swept away by war
• His performance today swept away any doubts about his ability to play.
sweep out [phrasal verb] sweep (something) out or sweep out (something) : to remove dust, dirt, etc., from (something) by using a broom or brush
• Please sweep out the room when you're done working.
sweep (someone) off his/her feet : to make (someone) suddenly become very attracted to you in a romantic way
• She says that he swept her off her feet, and they were married six months later.
sweep (something) under the rug US or chiefly Brit sweep (something) under the carpet : to hide (something that is illegal, embarrassing, or wrong)
• He tried to sweep his past mistakes under the rug.
• This is not something we can just sweep under the rug.
sweep the board chiefly Brit : to win everything that can be won in a competition
• She swept the board at the awards ceremony.
sweep up [phrasal verb]
1 sweep up or sweep (something) up or sweep up (something)
a : to remove dust, dirt, etc., from (something) by using a broom or brush
• When I was sweeping up, I found an earring that I had lost.
• Can you please sweep up the porch?
b sweep (something) up or sweep up (something) : to remove (something, such as dust, dirt, etc.) from a surface by using a broom or brush
• She swept up the broken glass.
2 sweep (someone or something) up or sweep up (someone or something) : to pick up (someone or something) in one quick, continuous motion
• She swept the baby up and carried her to the crib.
