\Sweep\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Swept}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Sweeping}.] [OE. swepen; akin to AS. sw[=a]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.

\Sweep\, v. i.
1. To clean rooms, yards, etc., or to clear away dust, dirt,
   litter, etc., with a broom, brush, or the like.
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.
3. To pass over anything comprehensively; to range through
   with rapidity; as, his eye sweeps through space.

\Sweep\, n.
1. The act of sweeping.
2. The compass or range of a stroke; as, a long sweep.
3. The compass of any turning body or of any motion; as, the
   sweep of a door; the sweep of the eye.
4. The compass of anything flowing or brushing; as, the flood
   carried away everything within its sweep.
5. Violent and general destruction; as, the sweep of an
   epidemic disease.
6. Direction and extent of any motion not rectlinear; as, the
   sweep of a compass.
7. Direction or departure of a curve, a road, an arch, or the
   like, away from a rectlinear line.
         The road which makes a small sweep.   --Sir W.
                                               Scott.
8. One who sweeps; a sweeper; specifically, a chimney
   sweeper.
9. (Founding) A movable templet for making molds, in loam
   molding.
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.
11. (Refining) The almond furnace. [Obs.]
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}.]
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.
14. pl. The sweeping of workshops where precious metals are
    worked, containing filings, etc.
{Sweep net}, a net for drawing over a large compass.
{Sweep of the tiller} (Naut.), a circular frame on which the
   tiller traverses.