word-vault

{ "term": "sweep", "partOfSpeech": "verb", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "b2", "verbForms": { "presentSimple": { "iYouWeThey": "sweep", "heSheIt": "sweeps" }, "pastSimple": "swept", "pastParticiple": "swept", "ingForm": "sweeping" }, "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to clean a room, surface, etc. using a broom (= a type of brush on a long handle)", "sensetop": "sweep (something)sweep upsweep something + adj.", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "to sweep the floor", "contextForm": "sweep (something)" }, { "text": "Chimneys should be swept regularly." }, { "text": "I don't have to sweep and mop every day." }, { "text": "Don't just stand around—grab a broom and sweep up.", "contextForm": "sweep up" }, { "text": "The showroom had been emptied and swept clean.", "contextForm": "sweep something + adj." } ], "topics": ["Houses and homes"] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to remove something from a surface using a brush, your hand, etc.", "sensetop": "sweep something + adv./prep.", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "She swept the crumbs into the wastebasket." }, { "text": "He swept the leaves up into a pile." }, { "text": "She swept the clothes onto the floor and invited him to sit down." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "to move or push somebody/something suddenly and with a lot of force", "sensetop": "sweep somebody/something + adv./prep.", "examples": [ { "text": "The little boat was swept out to sea." }, { "text": "Their tent was swept away in the storm." }, { "text": "She let herself be swept along by the crowd." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "to move suddenly and/or with force over an area or in a particular direction", "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.sweep something", "examples": [ { "text": "Rain swept in through the broken windows.", "contextForm": "+ adv./prep." }, { "text": "A fire swept through the store on Tuesday night." }, { "text": "Strong winds regularly sweep the islands.", "contextForm": "sweep something" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "to move quickly and/or smoothly, especially in a way that impresses or is intended to impress other people", "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.", "labels": "(figurative)", "examples": [ { "text": "Without another word she swept out of the room." }, { "text": "Two police motorcycles swept through the village." }, { "text": "A pair of golden eagles swept across the sky." }, { "text": "She swept past the photographers without a glance." }, { "text": "He swept into the lead with an almost perfect performance." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 6, "definition": "to move something, especially your hand or arm, quickly and smoothly in a particular direction", "sensetop": "sweep something + adv./prep.", "examples": [ { "text": "He rushed to greet her, sweeping his arms wide." }, { "text": "She swept a hand through her hair." }, { "text": "The traveller swept a hand toward the endless expanse of water." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 7, "definition": "to suddenly affect somebody strongly", "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.", "examples": [ { "text": "A wave of tiredness swept over her." }, { "text": "Memories came sweeping back." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 8, "definition": "to spread quickly", "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.sweep something", "examples": [ { "text": "Rumours of his resignation swept through the company.", "contextForm": "+ adv./prep." }, { "text": "the latest craze **sweeping the nation**", "contextForm": "sweep something" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 9, "definition": "to move over an area, especially in order to look for something", "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.sweep something", "examples": [ { "text": "His eyes swept around the room.", "contextForm": "+ adv./prep." }, { "text": "The car headlights swept across the front of the building." }, { "text": "Searchlights swept the sky.", "contextForm": "sweep something" }, { "text": "She swept the crowd with her binoculars." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 10, "definition": "to move, or move something, over a surface, touching it lightly", "sensetop": "sweep something", "examples": [ { "text": "Her dress swept the ground as she walked." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 11, "definition": "to brush, comb, etc. your hair in a particular direction", "sensetop": "sweep something + adv./prep.", "cefr": "c2", "examples": [ { "text": "Her hair was swept back from her face." } ], "topics": ["Appearance"] }, { "senseNumber": 12, "definition": "to form a long, smooth curve", "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.", "examples": [ { "text": "The hotel gardens sweep down to the beach." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 13, "definition": "to win all the games in a series of games against another team or all the parts of a contest", "sensetop": "sweep something", "labels": "(North American English)", "examples": [ { "text": "The Blue Jays have a chance to sweep the series." }, { "text": "New Jersey swept Detroit last season." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to win all the prizes, etc. in a competition", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to make somebody fall suddenly and deeply in love with you", "examples": [ { "text": "She’s waiting for some hero to come and sweep her off her feet." } ], "topics": ["Feelings"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to win an election by a large number of votes; to make somebody win an election with a large number of votes", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to win a contest easily", "examples": [ { "text": "Macron swept to victory in 2017." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to try to stop people from finding out about something wrong, illegal, embarrassing, etc. that has happened or that you have done", "examples": [ { "text": "An earlier report, implicating the government, had been conveniently swept under the carpet." } ] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/swiːp/", "audio": "sw/sweep/sweep__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/swiːps/", "audio": "sw/sweep/sweeps__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/swept/", "audio": "sw/sweep/swept__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈswiːpɪŋ/", "audio": "sw/sweep/sweeping__gb_1.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/swiːp/", "audio": "sw/sweep/sweep__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/swiːps/", "audio": "sw/sweep/sweeps__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/swept/", "audio": "sw/sweep/swept__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈswiːpɪŋ/", "audio": "sw/sweep/sweeping__us_1.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Old English swāpan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to German schweifen ‘sweep in a curve’." }