sweep

B1 · Intermediate

v. to move quickly or smoothly in a wide, curved shape.

v. to move through a horizontal arc or similar long, continuous stroke.

“The searchlight started to sweep across the dark water looking for the boat.”

“The eagle began to sweep over the valley in great circles, searching for movement in the grass below.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Sports

v. to win every game or prize in a competition or election.

v. to win a series or election without losing or drawing any individual contest.

“The team managed to sweep the three-game series against their rivals.”

“Political analysts predict that the opposition party might sweep the local elections if turnout remains high.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Military

v. to search a place carefully and completely.

v. to search a location methodically, often for hidden objects or people.

“The police had to sweep the building before the president arrived.”

“Security teams conducted a technical sweep of the conference room to ensure no listening devices had been planted.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Literary

n. a long, curved stretch of something, like a road or a beach.

n. a wide, continuous expanse or a long, curved line of land or water.

“From the top of the hill, you can see the whole sweep of the bay.”

“The grand staircase rose in a magnificent sweep toward the upper gallery of the mansion.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a person whose job is to clean the soot out of chimneys.

n. a person employed to clean soot from chimneys; often used as a shortened form of 'chimney sweep'.

“The sweep arrived with his long brushes to clean the fireplace.”

“Historically, a young sweep would be sent up narrow flues to clear the dangerous accumulation of soot.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Aviation Technical

n. the angle at which an airplane's wings point backward.

n. the degree to which an aircraft's wings are angled relative to the fuselage.

“The fighter jet has a variable sweep to help it fly at different speeds.”

“Engineers adjusted the wing sweep to reduce drag during supersonic flight tests.”