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| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Origin: | Probably from sweop, the past tense of Old English swapan 'to sweep' |
Related topics:1 to clean the dust, dirt etc from the floor or ground, using a brush with a long handle [= brush]: 
Bert swept the path in front of the house.
clean something
[transitive]DHC
Bert swept the path in front of the house.2 to move things from a surface with a brushing movement : I swept the papers quickly into the drawer.
push something somewhere
[transitive always + adverb/preposition]I swept the papers quickly into the drawer.3 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.
push somebody/something with force
[transitive always + adverb/preposition]The windsurfer was swept out to sea.Jessie was swept along by the angry crowd.4 if a group of people or animals sweep somewhere, they quickly move there together
group moves
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]5 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.
wind/waves etc
[intransitive,transitive always + adverb/preposition]DNThunderstorms swept the country.6 if an idea, feeling, or activity sweeps a group of people or a place, it quickly becomes very popular or common
become popular
[intransitive,transitive always + adverb/preposition] written sweep across/through etc the latest craze sweeping through the teenage population
the latest craze sweeping through the teenage population7 if a feeling sweeps over you, you are suddenly affected by it
feeling
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]8 if someone sweeps somewhere, they move quickly and confidently, especially because they are impatient or like to seem important
person
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]9 to win an election easily and in an impressive way
politics
[intransitive and transitive]10 to win all of the games in a series of games against a particular team : Houston swept Orlando to become NBA champions.
sports
[transitive] American EnglishHouston swept Orlando to become NBA champions.12 to form a long curved shape
form a curve
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]AV13 to look quickly at all of something : The General's eyes swept the horizon.
look
[intransitive,transitive always + adverb/preposition]The General's eyes swept the horizon.14 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.
sweep somebody off their feet
Jill's been swept off her feet by an older man.15 to try to keep something a secret, especially something you have done wrong
sweep/brush something under the carpet
also sweep something under the rug American English16 to pull your hair back from your face
hair
[transitive always + adverb/preposition]sweep somebody along
phrasal verbsweep something ↔ aside
phrasal verbBranson swept all the objections aside.sweep somebody/something away
phrasal verb1 to completely destroy something or make something disappear : houses swept away by the floods A sudden feeling of grief swept all my anger away.
sweep something ↔ away
houses swept away by the floodsA sudden feeling of grief swept all my anger away.2 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. 19th century scientists were swept along on the tide of Darwin's theories.
sweep somebody away
also sweep somebody along [usually passive]We couldn't help being swept away by Bette's enthusiasm.19th century scientists were swept along on the tide of Darwin's theories.sweep up
phrasal verb1DHC 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.
The janitor was just sweeping up as I left the building.2 to pick someone up in one quick movement : Harriet swept the child up in her arms and hugged her.
sweep sb↔ up
Harriet swept the child up in her arms and hugged her.WORD FOCUS: clean WORD FOCUS: clean 
wash with soap and water
wipe with a damp cloth
brush with a brush to remove the dirt
polish by rubbing with a cloth
scrub by rubbing hard
sweep with a broom
mop with water and a mop (a tool with a long handle)
vacuum also hoover British English with a machine that sucks up dust
disinfect using chemicals to kill germs
cleanse to clean your skin using a special cream
rinse to put water on to remove dirt or soap
dust to remove dust, for example with a cloth
➔ See also clean
WORD FOCUS: clean wash with soap and water
wipe with a damp cloth
brush with a brush to remove the dirt
polish by rubbing with a cloth
scrub by rubbing hard
sweep with a broom
mop with water and a mop (a tool with a long handle)
vacuum also hoover British English with a machine that sucks up dust
disinfect using chemicals to kill germs
cleanse to clean your skin using a special cream
rinse to put water on to remove dirt or soap
dust to remove dust, for example with a cloth
➔ See also clean
