swipe
vb
1 when intr, usually foll by: at
Informal to hit hard with a sweeping blow
3 tr to pass a machine-readable card, such as a credit card, debit card, etc., through a machine that electronically interprets the information encoded, usu. in a magnetic strip, on the card
n
5 (Also called)
sweep a type of lever for raising and lowering a weight, such as a bucket in a well (C19: perhaps related to sweep)
chimney sweep , sweeper
n a person whose job is the cleaning out of soot from chimneys
sweep
vb , sweeps, sweeping, swept
1 to clean or clear (a space, chimney, etc.) with a brush, broom, etc.
2 often foll by: up to remove or collect (dirt, rubbish, etc.) with a brush, broom, etc.
3 to move in a smooth or continuous manner, esp. quickly or forcibly
cars swept along the road
4 to move in a proud or dignified fashion
she swept past
5 to spread or pass rapidly across, through, or along (a region, area, etc.)
the news swept through the town
6 tr to direct (the gaze, line of fire, etc.) over; survey
7 tr; foll by: away or off to overwhelm emotionally
she was swept away by his charm
8 tr to brush or lightly touch (a surface, etc.)
the dress swept along the ground
9 tr; often foll by: away to convey, clear, or abolish, esp. with strong or continuous movements
the sea swept the sandcastle away, secondary modern schools were swept away
10 intr to extend gracefully or majestically, esp. in a wide circle
the plains sweep down to the sea
11 to search (a body of water) for mines, etc., by dragging
12 to search (a room, area, etc.) electronically to detect spying devices
13 tr to win overwhelmingly, esp. in an election
Labour swept the country
14 (Cricket) to play (a ball) with a sweep
15 tr to propel (a boat) with sweeps
a (in gambling) to win all the cards or money
b to win every event or prize in a contest
17 ♦
sweep (something) under the carpet to conceal (something, esp. a problem) in the hope that it will be overlooked by others
n
18 the act or an instance of sweeping; removal by or as if by a brush or broom
19 a swift or steady movement, esp. in an arc
with a sweep of his arms
20 the distance, arc, etc., through which something, such as a pendulum, moves
21 a wide expanse or scope
the sweep of the plains
22 any curving line or contour
a the winning of every trick in a hand of whist
b the taking, by pairing, of all exposed cards in cassino
24 short for →
sweepstake
25 (Cricket) 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
a a long oar used on an open boat
b (Austral) a person steering a surf boat with such an oar
27 any of the sails of a windmill
28 (Electronics) a steady horizontal or circular movement of an electron beam across or around the fluorescent screen of a cathode-ray tube
a a rakelike attachment for the front of a motor vehicle for pushing hay into piles
b a triangular blade on a cultivator used to cut through roots below the surface of the soil
31 (Chiefly Brit) See →
chimney sweep
32 another name for →
swipe →
5
a an overwhelming victory or success
b a complete change; purge
to make a clean sweep
(C13 swepen; related to Old English swapan, Old Norse sveipa; see swipe, swoop)
♦
sweepy adj
sweep hand
n (Horology) a long hand that registers seconds or fractions of seconds on the perimeter of the dial
sweep-saw
n a saw with a thin blade that can be used for cutting curved shapes
well sweep
n a device for raising buckets from and lowering them into a well, consisting of a long pivoted pole, the bucket being attached to one end by a long rope