swoop
v.v. to move quickly through the air in a smooth, curving motion. You often use this to describe a bird or plane coming down fast to grab something.
v. to move rapidly downward through the air in a sweeping motion, often to seize prey or perform a sudden attack.
The eagle will swoop down to catch the fish.
The owl waited on the branch before it began to swoop silently toward the field mouse below.
Security forces were prepared to swoop on the building as soon as the signal was given, ending the standoff before the suspects could react.
From Middle English swopen, from Old English swāpan (“to sweep”). Doublet of swaip. See also sweep, which was probably the basis for analogical restoration of /w/ in this word.
Often used with the particles 'down' or 'in', or followed by the preposition 'on' when describing a raid or sudden arrival.