hoover
- 01 B1 Intermediate
v.to clean a floor or carpet using a vacuum cleaner.
v.to clean a surface, typically a carpet or rug, using a vacuum cleaner. Ambitransitive — can be used with or without a direct object.
Simple“I need to hoover the living room before the guests arrive this evening.”
In context“After the renovation was complete, the contractors spent hours hoovering the fine dust that had settled into every corner of the house.”
UsageCommonly used in the UK and Ireland; speakers in North America almost exclusively use 'vacuum'.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to eat or drink something very fast, like a machine sucking up dust.
v.to consume food or drink rapidly and in large quantities. Often used with the particle 'up'.
Simple“The teenagers hoovered up all the pizza in less than five minutes.”
In context“The dog hoovered up the scraps that fell from the table before anyone had a chance to reach for a napkin.”
UsageFrequently appears as the phrasal verb 'hoover up'.
- 03 B1 Intermediate
n.a machine that sucks up dust and dirt from floors.
n.a vacuum cleaner, regardless of the actual manufacturer. A genericized trademark derived from the Hoover Company.
Simple“The hoover is in the cupboard under the stairs if you need it.”
In context“The old upright hoover finally broke down after twenty years of service, forcing the family to look for a modern cordless replacement.”
Teacher's tipWhile 'Hoover' is a brand name, in the UK it is used as a common noun for any vacuum cleaner.
Synonymsvacuumvacuum cleaner
The surname is an anglicization of German Huber or Low German Hufer, originally designating a landowner or a prosperous small-scale farmer. The common noun and verb are taken from the brand name of one of the first vacuum cleaners (see hoover).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.