v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Swept p. pr. & vb. n. Sweeping. ] [ OE. swepen; akin to AS. swāpan. See Swoop, v. i. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will sweep it with the besom of destruction. Isa. xiv. 23. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies. Isa. xxviii. 17. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have already swept the stakes. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To brush against or over; to rub lightly along. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their long descending train,
With rubies edged and sapphires, swept the plain. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion. [ 1913 Webster ]

And like a peacock sweep along his tail. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To strike with a long stroke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wake into voice each silent string,
And sweep the sounding lyre. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Naut.) To draw or drag something over; as, to sweep the bottom of a river with a net. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation; as, to sweep the heavens with a telescope. [ 1913 Webster ]

To sweep a mold or
To sweep up a mold (Founding), to form the sand into a mold by a templet, instead of compressing it around the pattern. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of sweeping. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The compass or range of a stroke; as, a long sweep. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The compass of any turning body or of any motion; as, the sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The compass of anything flowing or brushing; as, the flood carried away everything within its sweep. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Violent and general destruction; as, the sweep of an epidemic disease. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Direction and extent of any motion not rectlinear; as, the sweep of a compass. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, or the like, away from a rectlinear line. [ 1913 Webster ]

The road which makes a small sweep. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. One who sweeps; a sweeper; specifically, a chimney sweeper. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Founding) A movable templet for making molds, in loam molding. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. (Naut.) (a) 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. (b) A large oar used in small vessels, partly to propel them and partly to steer them. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. (Refining) The almond furnace. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ Variously written swape, sweep, swepe, and swipe. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

14. pl. The sweeping of workshops where precious metals are worked, containing filings, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sweep net, a net for drawing over a large compass. --
Sweep of the tiller (Naut.), a circular frame on which the tiller traverses. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To clean rooms, yards, etc., or to clear away dust, dirt, litter, etc., with a broom, brush, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To pass over anything comprehensively; to range through with rapidity; as, his eye sweeps through space. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The crop of hay got in a meadow. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, sweeps, or cleans by sweeping; a sweep; as, a carpet sweeper. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is oxygen which is the great sweeper of the economy. Huxley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Cleaning off surfaces, or cleaning away dust, dirt, or litter, as a broom does; moving with swiftness and force; carrying everything before it; including in its scope many persons or things; as, a sweeping flood; a sweeping majority; a sweeping accusation. -- Sweep"ing*ly, adv. -Sweep"ing*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. Things collected by sweeping; rubbish; as, the sweepings of a street. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A bow-saw. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A winning of all the stakes or prizes. Heylin. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A complete removal or carrying away; a clean sweep. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hacket. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A winning of all the stakes or prizes; a sweepstake. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. sing. or pl. The whole money or other things staked at a horse race, a given sum being put up for each horse, all of which goes to the winner, or is divided among several, as may be previously agreed. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A race for all the sums staked or prizes offered. [ 1913 Webster ]