Sweeping
['swiːpɪŋ] or ['swipɪŋ]
Definition
(noun.) the act of cleaning with a broom.
(adj.) ignoring distinctions; 'sweeping generalizations'; 'wholesale destruction' .
(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' .
Typist: Lucas--From WordNet
Definition
(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Sweep
(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.
Checked by Aida
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. [1]. Destructive.[2]. Wholesale, extensive, broad.[3]. Unqualified, exaggerated.
Editor: Milton
Unserious Contents or Definition
To dream of sweeping, denotes that you will gain favor in the eyes of your husband, and children will find pleasure in the home. If you think the floors need sweeping, and you from some cause neglect them, there will be distresses and bitter disappointments awaiting you in the approaching days. To servants, sweeping is a sign of disagreements and suspicion of the intentions of others.
Editor: Theresa
Examples
- She went on sweeping all the time. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- The fact that the oxygen of the air is diluted as it were with so large a proportion of nitrogen, prevents fires from sweeping over the world and destroying everything in their path. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- With dismay and anger they heard Jesus sweeping away their dear securities. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- I will tell you the meaning of it, cried the lady, sweeping into the room with a proud, set face. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- The sweeping style suits you best, and you must learn to trail your skirts gracefully. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- Montagu, the relation of the lady in Gloucester Place, of chimney-sweeping notoriety, assisted to keep up the spirit of the dance. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- There was evidently nothing for it but to go, and Donne made his exodus, the heiress sweeping him a deep curtsy as she closed the gates on him. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- I heard her sweeping away; and soon after she was gone, I suppose I had a species of fit: unconsciousness closed the scene. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- The reason given for not sweeping the dusty streets was, that the dust would fly into the windows of shops and houses. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- She hired a crossing-sweeping boy to show it her. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- Well,' said the old gentleman, 'I suppose he's fond of chimney-sweeping? Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- Now in making that statement, I am aware that it is a sweeping one, and I do not mean to imply that Mr. Wallas is the only modern man who has tried to think about politics psychologically. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- It was not a bad day for a walk, if you were young and strong, and could breast the great gusts of wind which came sweeping in from the sea. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- Over twenty years ago we formulated a sweeping taboo against trusts. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- When I had entered he was sweeping the shop, and he had sweetened his labors by sweeping over me. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
Checked by Beth