Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Origin: swope 'to sweep' (11-19 centuries), from Old English swapan; SWEEP1

swoop

1 verb
     
Related topics: Birds, Air
swoop1 [intransitive]
1HBBTTA if a bird or aircraft swoops, it moves suddenly down through the air, especially in order to attack something:
The eagle hovered, ready to swoop at any moment.
swoop down/over/across etc
A helicopter suddenly swooped down.
2 written if the police, army etc swoop on a place, they go there without any warning in order to look for someone or something
swoop on
Drug officers swooped on several addresses in London last night.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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