sweeping : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: sweeping	by the DICT Development Group
3 results for sweeping
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
sweeping adj taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination; "a sweeping glance"; "a wide- sweeping view of the river" ignoring distinctions; "sweeping generalizations"; "wholesale destruction" Synonym(s): sweeping, wholesale n the act of cleaning with a broom
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Sweep \Sweep\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Swept}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Sweeping}.] [OE. swepen; akin to AS. sw[be]pan. 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. I will sweep it with the besom of destruction. --Isa. xiv. 23. 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. The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies. --Isa. xxviii. 17. I have already swept the stakes. --Dryden. 3. To brush against or over; to rub lightly along. Their long descending train, With rubies edged and sapphires, swept the plain. --Dryden. 4. To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion. And like a peacock sweep along his tail. --Shak. 5. To strike with a long stroke. Wake into voice each silent string, And sweep the sounding lyre. --Pope. 6. (Naut.) To draw or drag something over; as, to sweep the bottom of a river with a net. 7. To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation; as, to sweep the heavens with a telescope. {To sweep, [or] sweep up}, {a mold} (Founding), to form the sand into a mold by a templet, instead of compressing it around the pattern.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Sweeping \Sweep"ing\, 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"ingly}, adv. -{Sweep"ingness}, n.